Anne book could fetch record price

A first-run edition of Anne of Green Gables is expected to bring a record price at a Sotheby's auction next week.

The classic novel by L. M. Montgomery was first printed in 1908. In 2005, the last time Sotheby's auctioned a first edition, the book sold for $24,000 US, a record-setting amount for a Montgomery book.

Justin Caldwell, vice-president of books and manuscripts at Sotheby's, told CBC News Tuesday this copy is in better condition than the one sold in 2005.

"The present copy doesn't have quite the same amount of staining to the portrait image on the front cover. Internally, it's a very fine copy," said Caldwell.

Caldwell said only eight first-run editions have been sold in the past 35 years at Sotheby's.

"For a 20th century book, it's terribly scarce," he said.

This copy, said Caldwell, could sell for $25,000. The auction is Dec. 11.