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Local Book Collector Sanguine About Sale Of Autographed Dracula

This is the 100th anniversary of the publication of Bram Stoker's Dracula ,

and one Newtown resident has an autographed copy of the original novel.

Local book collector Roch-Josef di Lisio of Taunton Hill Road purchased the

book several years ago at a book sale. Now he plans to auction it off at next

week's autograph auction at Swann Galleries. The book is considered a

presentation copy, meaning it was Mr Stoker's own copy, which he gave to a

friend. The Irish author's short note and signature are dated June 14, 1897.

The presale estimate of what the presentation copy of Dracula will sell at is

between $6/8,000.

The book on vampirism is a bit tattered and torn, but is considered a

collector's item.

"I get books everywhere under the sun. I always thought about turning it over

to an auction gallery," said Mr di Lisio. "There's such a great interest in

Bram Stoker that I thought people might want to buy it at the auction."

The story of Dracula is currently showing at Gateway's Candlewood Playhouse in

New Fairfield.