Are O. Henry books valuable?
Q: I have several books by O. Henry that were published during the early years of the last century. Are they valuable, and who can I contact to sell them? — Rosemary, Odessa, Texas
A: William Sidney Porter was born in North Carolina in 1862. During his lifetime, he wrote at least 300 short stories that were published under the pen name of O. Henry. His short stories and novels established him as one of the country’s most important writers.
Typical prices for first editions listed in Collected Books: The Guide to Values, by Allen and Patricia Ahearn, include “Roads of Destiny,” $150; “The Four Million,” $250; and “The Hiding of Black Bill,” $500. First editions are rather scarce, and what you might have are later printings, which are worth much less.
To find out more about the books in your collection, you might want to contact an established dealer. Three that specialize in American authors are Tom Haydon, Wessex Books, 558 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025; Howard Weetall, Antiquarian Bookworm, 4562 Skyland Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89121; and Jim Owens, Thorn Books, 5721 North Killdeer Drive, Tucson, AZ 85743. Always enclosed a SASE when contacting experts mentioned in this column.
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Q: Is there a flea market directory for the United States? I plan to spend this summer visiting as many as possible in the Northeast. — Carol, North Canton, Ohio
A: One of the better reference books is the Official Directory to U.S. Flea Markets, which lists about 500 individual markets. It provides accurate and up-to-date information about each. You can order a copy through the publisher: House of Collectibles, 201 East 50th St., New York, NY 10022. The toll-free telephone number is 1-800-733-3000.
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Q: I have a movie poster of “Sunset Pass” featuring James Warren. It was a Western that was produced by RKO in 1951. Who can I contact to sell it? — Leslie, Oconto, Wisc.
A: One of the better publications for Western movie memorabilia collectors is the Old Time Western Film Club, P.O. Box 142, Siler City, NC 27344. You might also want to contact dealer Jerry Ohlinger, Jerry Ohlinger’s Movie Material Store, 242 West 14th St., New York, NY 10011.