Rare Books Stolen from NYC Estate Recovered After 40 Years, Valued at Millions
A collection of rare books, valued at nearly $3 million, has been recovered after being stolen from the estate of New York City socialites John Hay Whitney and Betsey Cushing Whitney nearly 40 years ago. The books, which include love letters from poet John Keats and a signed first edition of James Joyce's 'Finnegan's Wake,' were reported missing between 1982 and 1989. The recovery was made possible when a man attempted to sell the books to Manhattan book dealers in January 2025. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office, led by Alvin Bragg, announced the recovery and emphasized the importance of legal art transactions in New York. 
