The auction house Christie’s is preparing a high-profile sale of items from the private library of iconic Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts. Among the treasures is a rare copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, signed and preserved with care. The collection also includes numerous other exceptional works, from autographed first editions to carefully preserved rarities, all making their way to the auction block as part of a curated literary sale in major cities.
This standout volume is considered the most valuable book in Watts’s library. It is expected to fetch a substantial sum, with estimates in the range of £200,000 to £300,000. Christie’s will lead the auction, presenting key pieces from the literary collection in New York, Los Angeles, and London before the sale concludes. The event is designed to attract collectors and libraries alike, offering a rare glimpse into a musician’s personal reading room and the enduring relationship between music and literature.
The Great Gatsby copy carries a notable provenance. Fitzgerald signed it for MGM screenwriter Harold Goldman, with whom he collaborated on the 1938 film A Yank at Oxford, starring Robert Taylor and Vivien Leigh. The inscription reads: “With gratitude to Harold Goldman, the original ‘Gatsby’ of this story, for allowing me to reveal these secrets of the past.” This caption anchors the book in a moment of literary and cinematic collaboration, adding a layer of historical significance to the item.
Within the same collection, prospective buyers will find other celebrated works. Among them are rare and first editions of Agatha Christie’s mysteries, a signature volume by P. G. Wodehouse, and pieces connected to James Joyce. Each item reflects a moment when literature intersected with popular culture, cinema, and the broader literary marketplace of the 20th century.
Paul Sexton, a biographer who has chronicled Watts’s life, notes that the drummer cherished his library deeply. He explains that Watts enjoyed owning these volumes, valued quiet time at home, and read frequently while on the move. Literature, in his view, formed a core part of Watts’s worldview and personal identity, influencing how he approached music, travel, and daily life. This perspective helps illuminate why a collection of such breadth and quality would be curated and preserved for a future audience.
In recent years, other prominent items from music circles have also found new life at auction. For instance, a Harry Potter costume associated with the series recently sold for a substantial sum in the United States, underscoring the market’s appetite for iconic cultural artifacts. The Watts collection stands alongside these high-profile sales, offering a bridge between music history and the broader world of literature and collectible books.