Box of books produces signed 1st edition!

[Historyhound]

I was driving to the store yesterday and saw a moving sale sign and decided to make a detour. Saw a few boxes of older books marked "hardcovers $1 each". I was thumbing through them and saw the usual name and address of the owner inside the covers until I came across this one. My heart about jumped out of my chest. I calmly closed the cover, paid my buck and left. Been trying to research the book, and only found a couple of old newspaper articles that mention the author when he was on the job as a detective in NYC. I believe the inscription reads "To Dr. Kinney(or maybe Kierney), One who proved to be a real life saver to me. Ernest L Van Wagner." It may not be worth much, but a signed 1st edition this age has got to be worth alot more than $1! Anybody out there know anything else about this author?

[roswellborn]

How very cool! It looks as if it'd be a terrific read, to boot. (Unless you don't want to risk tearing a page or something)

No idea as to its worth, but signed is better, and is the author in demand (dunno).

Good luck!

Nan

[nhbenz]

From what I can find he was a 36-yr career detective, retiring in 1932. He worked for Teddy Roosevelt in the early part of his career. This is his autobiography.
Being that you're in NY you should have no trouble finding someone (quite possibly in law enforcement) that would be looking to find a copy of that.

[tulecanyon]

i checked abebooks, and not one is listed.

fantastic find.
police memorabilia is a hot market. i just sold a cane handle that belonged to a sherriff in colorado for 250.
picked it up on a trade, posted it on craigs list...three days later it was in the mail.

[Cynangyl]

so very cool!! Would definitely be worth more than a buck just to put in your personal library! Good find!

[Purrdee]

[quote=Historyhound ]
I was driving to the store yesterday and saw a moving sale sign and decided to make a detour. Saw a few boxes of older books marked "hardcovers $1 each". I was thumbing through them and saw the usual name and address of the owner inside the covers until I came across this one. My heart about jumped out of my chest. I calmly closed the cover, paid my buck and left. Been trying to research the book, and only found a couple of old newspaper articles that mention the author when he was on the job as a detective in NYC. I believe the inscription reads "To Dr. Kinney(or maybe Kierney), One who proved to be a real life saver to me. Ernest L Van Wagner." It may not be worth much, but a signed 1st edition this age has got to be worth alot more than $1! Anybody out there know anything else about this author?
[/quote

http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstra...D8415B828FF1D3
YOu might want to take a look at this..

Purrdee]

[Historyhound]

Thanks Purrdee, any info like that helps.

[bja3908]

I buy and sell a lot of book and I can tell you anything signed is worth a lot more then one not. Also that book might have a good lead or two in it. If you can read it with out hurting it do so it might put you onto a nice little NY treasure or two. Keep us up to date on the book, would love to read it myself.
Good Luck Bobby