Stroke of Luck Value Guide

Published in 1973, Stroke of Luck is the essential first-edition biography of Three Stooges member Larry Fine, chronicling his journey from a young violinist and boxer to a comedy icon. This work is particularly poignant as it was released just two years before Fine's death and addresses the 1970 stroke that ended his career.

What Is Stroke of Luck Worth?

The typical price range for Stroke of Luck is $100 - $110 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The presence and condition of the original dust jacket significantly impact the $100-$110 valuation.
• Overall physical state, including the absence of foxing on the paper and minimal wear to the cloth spine.
• Provenance or potential inscriptions, as copies signed by Larry Fine during his time at the Motion Picture Country House command a premium.
• The scarcity of well-preserved first editions compared to later biographical accounts of the Three Stooges.

How to Identify Stroke of Luck?

• Verify the 1973 publication date and authorship by James Carone on the title page.
• Check for the original dust jacket featuring a portrait of Larry Fine and the specific 'Stroke of Luck' typography.
• Confirm the publisher information to ensure it is a true first edition rather than a later reprint.
• Look for the distinct cloth and cardboard binding materials characteristic of early 1970s United States book production.

History of Stroke of Luck

Published in 1973, this book serves as the definitive biography of Louis Feinberg, better known as Larry Fine. It was released shortly before his death in 1975 and covers his life from his early days as a boxer and violinist to the peak of the Three Stooges' fame and his later years living at the Motion Picture Country House. The title is a poignant play on words, referring both to his professional success and the massive stroke he suffered in 1970 that ended his acting career.