CATALOGUE TWO HUNDRED NINETY-NINE Western Americana WILLIAM REESE COMPANY 409 Temple Street New Haven, CT 06511 (203) 789-8081 A Note This catalogue contains much in the way of new acquisitions in Western Americana, along with several items from our stock that have not been featured in recent catalogues. Printed, manuscript, cartographic, and visual materials are all represented. A theme of the catalogue is the exploration, settlement, and development of the trans-Mississippi West, and the time frame ranges from the 16th century to the early 20th. Highlights include copies of the second and third editions of The Book of Mormon; a certificate of admission to Stephen F. Austin’s Texas colony; a document signed by the Marquis de Lafayette giving James Madison power of attorney over his lands in the Louisiana Territory; an original drawing of Bent’s Fort; and a substantial run of the wonderfully illustrated San Francisco magazine, The Wasp, edited by Ambrose Bierce. Speaking of periodicals, we are pleased to offer the lengthiest run of the first California newspaper to appear on the market since the Streeter Sale, as well as a nearly complete run of The Dakota Friend, printed in the native language. There are also several important, early California broadsides documenting the political turmoil of the 1830s and the seizure of control by the United States in the late 1840s. From early imprints to original artwork, from the fur trade to modern construction projects, a wide variety of subjects are included. Available on request or via our website are our recent catalogues 291 The United States Navy; 292 96 American Manuscripts; 294 A Tribute to Wright Howes: Part I; 295 A Tribute to Wright Howes: Part II; 296 Rare Latin Americana; 297 Recent Acquisitions in Ameri- cana, as well as Bulletins 25 American Broadsides; 26 American Views; 27 Images of Native Americans; 28 The Civil War; 29 Photographica, and many more topical lists. Some of our catalogues, as well as some recent topical lists, are now posted on the internet at www.reeseco.com. A portion of our stock may be viewed via links at www. reeseco.com. If you would like to receive e-mail notification when catalogues and lists are uploaded, please e-mail us at [email protected] or send us a fax, specifying whether you would like to receive the notifications in lieu of or in addition to paper catalogues. Terms Material herein is offered subject to prior sale. All items are as described and are con- sidered to be on approval. Notice of return must be given within ten days unless specific arrangements are made. Connecticut residents must be billed state sales tax. Postage and insurance charges are billed to all nonprepaid domestic orders. Overseas orders are sent by air unless otherwise requested, with full postage charges billed at our discretion. Payment by check, wire transfer or bank draft is preferred, but may also be made by MasterCard or Visa. William Reese Company Phone: (203) 789-8081 409 Temple Street Fax: (203) 865-7653 New Haven, CT 06511 E-mail: [email protected] www.williamreesecompany.com ON COVER: 177. [Manner of Carl Wimar]: [Indian Warriors Riding Away...]. (detail) 1. [Abert, James W.]: MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT...COM- MUNICATING A REPORT OF AN EXPEDITION LED BY LIEUTENANT ABERT, ON THE UPPER ARKANSAS AND THROUGH THE COUNTRY OF THE CAMANCHE INDIANS, IN THE FALL OF THE YEAR 1845. [Washington. 1846]. 75pp. plus twelve lithographed plates and large folding map. Modern half morocco and marbled boards. Bookplate on front pastedown. Minor toning and foxing. Very good. The first printing of this most important report, accompanied by the map based on the first astronomical observations made in the territory traversed. Wheat de- scribes this map as “of great interest” and suggests that it was probably drawn by Charles Preuss. It is notable for the new information about the country between the Arkansas and Canadian rivers. Under Fremont’s orders, Abert travelled west to the Raton Mountains, down the Canadian, and back to Fort Gibson through the Creek Nation. The views are quite handsome and include the famous plate of Bent’s Fort, as well as depictions of West Texas and Oklahoma. HOWES A10. RITTENHOUSE 1. WHEAT TRANSMISSISSIPPI 489. SABIN 59. WAGNER-CAMP 120. GRAFF 6. $2500. 2. Aimard, Gustave: [COLLECTION OF TEN NOVELS, INCLUD- ING THE MISSOURI OUTLAWS; THE PRAIRIE FLOWER; THE INDIAN SCOUT; THE TRAppERS OF ARKANSAS; THE BORDER RIFLES; THE FREE- BOOTERS; THE WHITE SCALPER; THE GUIDE OF THE DESERT; THE INSUR- GENT CHIEF; THE FLYING HORSEMAN]. London. [1876-1877]. Ten works bound in three volumes. Contemporary three-quarter calf and marbled boards. Extremities lightly worn; hinges on first volume neatly repaired. Internally clean. Very good. Mixed editions and issues – at least one is the first edition in English, and the other nine are probably second editions in English. A nice gathering of popular tales of American frontier life by French writer Oliver Gloux (1813-83, pen name Gustave Aimard), which were first translated into English and published in yel- lowback format beginning in 1860. In 1876, Percy B. St. John was contracted by publisher Vickers to translate The Missouri Outlaws and revise and edit the other twenty-eight titles in the series, with brief prefaces. Aimard is an interesting – al- most mythic – figure in the dime novel tradition, alternately known as the Dumas of the Indians and the Fenimore Cooper of France. He came to the United States as a young midshipman and is said to have lived among the Indians in Arkansas, where he learned the skills of frontier life. A nice run of these works. $850. With a Map of Alaska Territory, Printed There in 1887 3. [Alaska]: THE NORTH STAR. No. 1. Vol. 1. Sitka, Ak. December 1887. [4]pp., text in three columns. Large map on front page. Single horizontal fold. Closed splits along folds, foredge of first leaf a bit rough, but with no loss of text. Very good. The first issue of an early Alaska newspaper, published twenty years after the ter- ritory was purchased by the United States. The North Star was published monthly, “in the interests of schools and missions in Alaska,” and was produced at the Sitka Industrial School. The text is filled with news of missionary work in the remote territory, a list of missionaries in Alaska and their post office addresses, notices to arrivals in the territory and of the establishment of new churches, allegorical stories with a religious theme, and much more. The front page is taken up by a map of Alaska, furnished by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. $1500. Furthest North Imprint? 4. [Alaska]: CATHOLIC PRAYERS & HYMNS IN THE TINNEH LANGUAGE. [bound with:] TINNEH INDIAN CATECHISM OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE. Kosoreffski, Ak.: Indian Boys’ Press, 1897. Two volumes bound in one. [2],39; [2],22pp. 24mo. Original decorative cloth wrappers. A few early leaves tanned. Second page of first title with four words of text corrected by a contemporary pasted-on slip. A very good copy, crudely trimmed. In a cloth chemise and half morocco slipcase. One of the earliest American items printed this far north in Alaska. According to Wickersham, Kosoreffski was opposite Holy Cross on the Yukon River. These two items, bound together, were produced by Fathers Tosi and Ragaru, and stand as the first production of the Holy Cross Mission at Kosoreffski. Streeter further notes that “these two books are the only ones listed in the imprints catalogue at the New York Public Library as printed at Holy Cross.” Remarkably early Alaskan linguistic imprints. WICKERSHAM 1046, 1047. STREETER SALE 3569. $1750. 5. Ansted, David T.: THE GOLD-SEEKER’S MANUAL. London: John Van Voorst, 1849. [4],172pp., plus [6]pp. of ads. Small octavo. Original green cloth, later printed paper labels on front board and backstrip. Minor shelf wear. Very clean internally. Near fine. The second (and best) London edition of this popular guide to gold prospecting, published in the year of the California Gold Rush. This edition is nearly twice the length of other British and American editions, with much added material. Ansted, a prominent British mining engineer, speculates on the probable economic effects of the California gold discovery, with chapters on the distribution and nature of gold; methods by which to identify it; washing, assaying and refinement; and the effect of California gold on the world market. “The concluding chapter described California’s prospects as a gold-producing country and promoted the gold discovery as a grand opportunity for English manufacturers” – Kurutz. “This was the standard authority of the time” – Cowan. HOWES A286. SABIN 1647. COWAN, p.17. KURUTZ 19b. WHEAT GOLD RUSH 5. HOLLIDAY SALE 20. ROCQ 15677. $1500. 6. [Arizona Photographica]: [ALBUM OF SIXTY-FIVE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF ARIZONA, INCLUDING SEVERAL OF THE DEDICATION OF THE THEODORE ROOSEVELT DAM ON THE SALT RIVER, NORTHEAST OF PHOENIX, AND SEV- ERAL OF SCENES ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER IN NEW MEXICO]. [Arizona. 1911-1917]. Sixty-five original photographic prints, measuring on average 5 x 4 inches, most with accompanying manuscript cap- tions. Oblong 12mo. Contemporary pebbled black imitation leather album. Binding worn, cracking along front joint. A few of the photographs faded or lightly printed. Very good. An album of photographs of early 20th-century Arizona, highlighted by a group of photos showing the dedication of Theodore Roosevelt Dam, which President Roo- sevelt himself attended. The Roosevelt Dam was built on the Salt River, northeast of Phoenix, between 1905 and 1911, chiefly to gather water for agricultural uses, and to control flooding. It was begun during the Roosevelt administration and built under the auspices of the Reclamation Act of 1902, which funded numerous irrigation projects in the West.