John Steinbeck’s family has “said that proceeds from an auction last Monday will be used to finance the renovation of a bungalow in Pacific Grove, California, in which the author wrote many of his most famous books.” The proceeds exceeded $200,000, including a rare edition of Grapes of Wrath that sold for $47,800 and an edition of his first novel, Cup of Gold, that sold for $21,500.
“The sale was part of an auction of first editions previously owned by Steinbeck's sister, Elizabeth Steinbeck Ainsworth, who died in 1992. Most of the books carried personal inscriptions, raising their value as sought-after "association copies" and providing valuable nuggets of information for Steinbeck scholars.” – from “Steinbeck Sale Sets New World Record,” by Nick Tanner, The Guardian