Calling on book people and anyone w/ info on items from Eleanor Roosevelt estate!!!

L

Luvpawz

Jr. Member
Dec 20, 2013
35
10
New York - suburbs of NYC
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Okay - Found this book at estate sale in Westchester, NY about 2 weeks ago with a bunch of other books and didn't really examine it until today. The book is The Mind of Mahatma Gandhi Compiled by R. K. Prabhu & U. R. Rao. An inscription inside the book reads "To Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt With kindest regards from U.R. Rao a little souvenir of your visit to the land of".... I believe the next word is "Gandhi" followed by what I believe to be the word "Bombay" then the date "3-3-52" - Research reveals she was in India for about 2 weeks in March 1952.

Inside the front cover is a "ex libris" sticker in the name "Eleanor Roosevelt" and also a smaller sticker in the upper corner that says "Estate of Eleanor Roosevelt No. 311 Hyde Park, NY" (311 is handwritten)

I researched U.R. Rao and found out he is a famous pioneer in space science. He is still alive and was 20 when he presented Mrs. Roosevelt with this book. He has a Ph.D. and numerous awards and is associated with numerous organizations. He is the former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation. Presently he is the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Physical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad. He also taught at MIT and U. of Texas earlier in his career.

I obviously need the book appraised and authenticated but does anyone have any idea of a possible value of the book? I can't find anything close to it on the net under books signed by U. R. Rao or under items from Mrs. Roosevelt's estate. Thanks for any ideas!!! 004.JPG005.JPG006.JPG007.JPG008.JPG004.JPG005.JPG006.JPG007.JPG008.JPG
 

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I'll be no help with answers to your questions, but I wanted to chime in and share my appreciation for such a nice piece of history! I hope your book/autograph are authenticated....very nice!
 

Thanks - I'm waiting to hear from a connection in the estate sale business to see if he knows anyone that can look at it for me. I was a little floored when I found the inscription - bought it for $15!!!!!
 

Man that is amazing! Can't wait to her what you find out! This cold be a very rare item! Any books ever make the banner? Hmmm....
 

hmm - Id try to track down other stuff from that estate sale.......
 

Her actual estate is now a national park called Valhallar ( spelt wrong ) It is just north of Poughkeepsie in HYDE PARK about 2 miles from the VANDERBELT mansion also a national historic site on route 9 ----------- I had a friend who was a park ranger at the Vanderbuilt site in the 80's They had a historian on site then You might want to check that out with them
 

Quick second thought , If your in the Westchester area I would try to contact a major action house in the City , I don't known if SWAN still exists but they used to deal in a lot of paper and books I wonder if the #311 indicated a lot from a previous auction ?
 

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Thanks Citiboy - I actually had that very idea in mind..... I only live about 40 min. away from there on the other side of the Hudson River.... After the holidays going to take a ride up and see what they say.... (Hope they don't want it back!!!!)

Just saw your second post - I live in Rockland so its an easy run to the city... I'll check out SWAN later when I get back from errands... Thanks for the info!
 

It is a cool find, but I'm sure it would have more value if it were inscribed from Eleanor rather than to her. By the way, I'm in Valley Cottage, do you metal detect too??
 

Couple things... The first thing I would ask is, Is this the 1945 first edition? The second is, the U.R.Rao you referred to would have been 13 years old at the time this book was first printed. It has to be a different guy. Interesting. I can't find any first editions signed or otherwise. Here is what Mrs. Roosevelt wrote in her "My Day" column on the day she received the book. It is not mentioned but I figured i'd post it anyway. My Day by Eleanor Roosevelt, March 3, 1952
 

gunsil - nope sorry no detecting - just picking at estate sales

diggumup - I found later editions on line... this is a 2nd edition October 1946 (first was 1945) and yes this would make him 13 yrs old, lol didn't catch that thank you. And I did check her "My Day" column with no luck either.

I found this about the authors of the book at WELCOME TO MAHATMA GANDHI ONE SPOT COMPLETE INFORMATION WEBSITE

"The editors of the book R. K. Prabhu and U. R. Rao are some of the most experienced minds in the world of book editing. They have also edited "Collected works of Mahatma Gandhi". The book has a meticulously worked out index of subjects, dates, biography and explanation of difficult words. It is difficult to find such an authentic and comprehensive book on Mahatma."

And found this on ABEBooks.com "U R Rao, born and educated in Mangalore; collaborated in Gandhian research and compilation with R K Prabhu; co-founder and co-editor-in-chief United Asia, Bombay; deputy chief editor of The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi.589 pages"

Little bummed it wasn't the other guy!


Here are pics of the title page and copyright page..... any help is greatly appreciated!!!:hello:
 

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I wonder if your book came from here before you purchased it at another estate auction- Roosevelt Memorabilia at Auction - In The Press

I couldn't find the results for this particular auction but you can call them and they may be able to help you with that. I see a lot number on the book so.

Or here is another direction that it could have came from originally- Some Roosevelt Relatives Join Effort to Save Heirlooms From Auction - NYTimes.com

Interesting and I think the book would have great value even though it was not signed by her. It was a personal item gifted to her and it was personalized to her also. Besidesh having the original auction sticker on it. That is what is going to help you research the value of what this book originally sold for at auction.

Good luck and keep us updated.
 

This might be the estate sale:

EXHIBITION AND SALE: PERSONAL POSSESSIONS FROM THE ESTATE OF ELEANOR ROOSEVELT. With BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY OF MRS. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT. Hammer Galleries, New York, 1964. 2 Volumes. Auction of Mrs. Roosevelt's books and personal possessions, September 18-October 3, 1964. 2744 lots in auction of personal possessions; 3280 lots in book auction.

A wild guess - your book is worth $200 - $250 at retail.

Good luck to all,

~ The Old Bookaroo
 

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