John Gay
19 copies for sale · $30–$900 · 4 first editions
Notable copies for sale
Fables. With a life of the author and embellished with seventy plates (first edition) — Rulon-Miller Books$900
The Distress'd Wife. A Comedy (first edition) — James Cummins Bookseller$500
Poems on Several Occasions (first edition) — James Cummins Bookseller$400
Poems on Several Occasions (first edition) — James Cummins Bookseller$200
Two Epistles; One, to the Right Honourable Richard Earl of Burlington; The Other, to a Lad — James Cummins Bookseller$500
GAY'S FABLES. In One Volume. Complete From the Last London Edition — Bartleby's Books$250
The shepherd’s week. In six pastorals — Rulon-Miller Books$225
Poems on Several Occasions Complete in Two Volumes — MW Books€165
Poems on several occasions ... In two volumes — Rulon-Miller Books$125
Poems on several occasions...With a biographical and historical account of the author and — Rulon-Miller Books$100
Fables ... In one volume complete — Rulon-Miller Books$90
CAST IRON: ARCHITECTURE AND ORNAMENT, FUNCTION AND FANTASY — Rare Book Cellar$58
Works on the market
Poems on Several Occasions2 copies · $200–$400
The Distress'd Wife. A Comedy1 copy · $500
Two Epistles; One, to the Right Honourable Richard Earl of Burlington; The Other, to a Lad1 copy · $500
The shepherd’s week. In six pastorals1 copy · $225
Fables By The Late Mr Gay In One Volume Complete1 copy · $188
Poems on Several Occasions Complete in Two Volumes1 copy · €165
POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS1 copy · $150
The Shepherds Week In Six Pastorals1 copy · $150
Poems on several occasions ... In two volumes1 copy · $125
The Beggar's Opera1 copy · $105
Poems on several occasions...With a biographical and historical account of the author and 1 copy · $100
Fables ... In one volume complete1 copy · $90
Wine1 copy · $30
Market context
7 copies of John Gay's works have left the market recently; the median last-listed price was $41 (last listed prices at time of sale or removal, not confirmed sale prices).
Recent auction results (hammer prices, premiums not included):
Fables, 2 vol., first Stockdale edition, first issue, subscriber's copy with Sir John Fred (forum, 2026-08-06)£500
Fables, 2 vol., for John Stockdale, 1793; and others (6) (forum, 2026-05-07)£200
Listings aggregated from rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide; refreshed continually. Prices are seller asking prices unless marked as auction results.