The Emperor Norton Trust

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Norton Biographer Allen Stanley Lane’s Presentation Copy Twofer

Allen Lane wrote the first of only two book-length biographies of Emperor Norton that have been published.

The book hit the shops in February 1939.

Last week, I acquired a very special presentation copy of Lane’s biography. In fact, it’s the copy that Lane gifted to his parents on their anniversary, when the book was published.

Information in the inscription prompted me to do some digging into Lane’s story — something that long has been something of a mystery in Norton circles. What I discovered will be new, I think, to those who know Lane only as a Norton biographer.

Read on to learn more about Lane — and to get the second part of the twofer.

Includes an image of Lane’s inscription and a rare photograph of Lane that he included with the book.

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