Misadventures of Huckleberry Finn: Discovery of Twain's long-lost manuscript triggered a legal melee, but it may help tame the century-old race controversy. By Katy St Clair

Jay Dillon Rare Books + Manuscripts is a private, research-intensive rare-book dealer of forty years' experience in and around New York, specialized in exceptional books, manuscripts, and cultural property. Jay Dillon has been responsible for selling or appraising more than $100 million worth of books and manuscripts spanning some three thousand years. In 1989 Jay Dillon was the editor and principal author of a richly annotated catalogue that was hailed in the English press as one of the ten best books -- of any kind -- published that year. In 1994 he was invited to narrate the Discovery Channel program on the history of monopoly; and four years later he was consulted by the Zapruder family in connection with their famous film of the assassination of President Kennedy -- which, as it turned out, Mr Dillon valued more accurately than any other appraiser. The firm maintains a wide and productive network of relationships both among private collectors and in the trade; and we are currently engaged in building a number of outstanding private collections for our clients. Books and manuscripts offered to the public are mainly duplicates from our clients' libraries, or otherwise surplus to their needs. Our appraisal services include formal appraisals for insurance, estate-settlement, and tax purposes. For details please contact Dillonbook@AOL.com.