REILLY, HELEN.
THE THIRTY-FIRST BULLFINCH.
Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc., 1930., Garden City: 1930
- $485
First edition. Author's first book. Near fine, bright copy in a bright fresh dust jacket with minor wear to the top edges. John Bedford was murdered by poison having been added to his drink, but his bullfinch which the old man always fed with a cracker dipped in the same drink was still alive. With that slim clue, Sheriff Tilden built up a case that was to keep the whole Bedford household on edge on an isolated island off the New England coast. The local sheriff demonstrates that while being humble in appearance, one can be clever though unassuming, as the murderer strikes at his enemies with poison, drugs, guns, and even high explosives. Crime Club title. The author's scarce first book.
More from Buckingham Books
APACHE DAYS AND AFTER.
First Edition. 8vo. Original Green Decorated Cloth, 328 [1]pp., Frontispiece [portrait], Illustrated with photographs, Author's Preface, Introduction, Bibliographical. A fascinating page of Western military history long buried in the sheaves of Army records is uncovered in this account of the Indian campaigns of Arizona told by an officer who took an active part in the actual fighting itself. Frontier troops were faced with the pursuit and capture of the renegade Apaches of the Southwest. Skirmishes, difficult pursuits, wilderness strategy, and frontier privations are told from a practical militarist's point of view by a man who followed his line of duty. Previous owner's large, unique bookplate on front pastedown endpaper. It is a photographic image of Apache dancers walking in procession, with "From the Indian Library of Dolph Judd, printed at bottom edge. A fine, bright copy in dust jacket with a quarter-inch closed tear ar bottom edge of front panel, else fine and bright. GRAND RAPIDS AND INDIANA RAILROAD, THE FISHING LINE. DIRECT ROUTE TO THE FAMOUS SUMMER RESORTS & LAKES OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN
First edition. 8vo. 16" x 30 1/2" one sheet printed both sides, folded into an elaborate promotional brochure measuring 3 3/4" x 8", making 16 panels. One side has 16 panels with 6 panels displaying an inset 8" x 9 3/4" map of the Grand Rapids and Indiana R. R and Connections, 5 panels provide local and through time table schedules in effect June 22, 1884, with 3 panels listing rates to three Michigan destinations, and the remaining 2 panels for the colored front and rear covers. BRUCE’S MAP OF ALASKA
First pocket map edition of Bruce's popular 24" x 36" color map of Alaska that folds into a 4 1/4" x 7" blue cloth binder with titles in dark blue ink on the front cover. There is also a 7 1/2" x 10 1/2" inset map titled "Tourist Route From Puget Sound to Alaska." The blue cloth binder contains the label of "Bernice Pauahi Museum Library on the front pastedown sheet as well as the inked name of former Klondike Gold Rush miner hopeful Arthur A.Searle. MODERN GYPSIES. THE STORY OF A TWELVE THOUSAND MILE MOTOR CAMPING TRIP ENCIRCLING THE UNITED STATES
First edition. 8vo. Orange, black and green pictorial cloth, 262 pp., frontispiece, illustrated, 34 plates, map. The trip around the United States was for a period of one year and began in New York and proceeded to Florida. From Florida they moved on to the Gulf States and the Mississippi Valley and then into Texas. They visited southern California and Yosemite, Crater Lake, Mount Rainier, Glacier Park, Yellowstone and many other points of interest. This fascinating memoir of Mary and Fred Bedell?s trek across the perimeter of the United States in 1922 following World War I in their Hupmobile, over some of the worst driving conditions imaginable, including impassable roads, holdup bandits in Texarkana, tornadoes through Texas, while featuring camping stops at Yosemite, Crater Lake, Mount Rainier, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, Banff, and more. Political and racial upheaval make infrequent appearances as she often refers to the plight of African-Americans, or Native Americans, but she and her husband were Particularly appalled at the prevalence of the Ku Klux Klan across the South and into Arizona "taking the law into its own hands and wearing masks to prevent detection. Could anything be more cowardly or more at variance with our constitution." Bedell (1870-1936) was an active photographer, while her husband Frederick Bedell (1861-1958) was a noted physicist at Cornell, specialist in alternating currents, audiologist specialist, and later a professor at Caltech. This copy is from the library of former California State Librarian, Gary Kurutz. A few pages lightly soiled, else a very good, tight copy of an elusive title. A TEXAS RANGER
First edition. 8vo. Color, pictorial cloth, x [2], 321 pp., Outstanding account of Jennings' life as a Texas Ranger in the late 1870's. "The first edition is exceedingly scarce.contains much material on Texas gunmen, such as John Wesley Hardin and King Fisher, and the Taylor-Sutton Feud and other border troubles."--Ramon Adams. ".this is one of the most interesting accounts of the life of the Texas Rangers in the late 1870's."--John H. Jenkins. The author served under L. H. McNelly, from May, 1874 through February, 1877. It was a dangerous time in South Texas, with Mexican bandits under Cortina and hundreds of other outlaws in a lawless land. An exceptionally clean, bright copy of an important Texas Ranger classic. As New. Protected in a custom clamshell case. TALKING GOD.
First edition. Signed by the author on the half title page. Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee are reunited in both Gallup, New Mexico and Washington, D.C., as each man uses vacation time to follow seemingly unrelated cases. The conflict over valuable ancient ceremonial masks ends in a clash of violence at the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History. In addition to Hillerman's signature this copy has two original color drawings by Navajo artist Ernest Franklin, the first of which is a large, signed drawing opposite the title page that depicts Leaphorn (in a suit!) and Chee, holding a revolver as they investigate the counterfeiting of a valuable ceremonial mask (the Talking God). The second original color drawing appears on the half title page, is signed by Franklin, and is a drawing of "The Talking God" ceremonial mask. A fine bright copy in a fine bright dust jacket and housed in a cloth slipcase. An exceptional copy and very scarce. THE TETON MOUNTAINS, THEIR HISTORY AND TRADITIONS, WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY FUR TRADE, TRAPPERS, MISSIONARIES, MOUNTAIN MEN AND EXPLORERS WHO BLAZED THE TRIALS AROUND THE INSPIRING PEAKS
First edition. #627 of a limited edition of 700 signed copies. Boards with cloth spine. 462 pp. Preface. Bibliography. Index. Profusely illustrated. Map. An extensive history of the Teton Mountains and the region. "A beautiful book containing brief sketches of lives of men involved in early history of the Teton region. Topical arrangement causes considerable overlapping and repetition. Valuable long quotations from diaries and reports. Takes history of the region up to the present (1950). Many footnotes and long bibliography."--Wyomingana. A classic work. Some light wear and a number written in ink in upper fore-corner of front free-endpaper, else clean and tight. Very good-near fine. Protected in custom slipcase. FOUR MEN HANGING: THE END OF THE OLD WEST
First Edition. Boards, 145pp., numerous illustrations. An interesting history of Ada, Oklahoma, from its beginning in 1898 to the famous hanging in 1909. Joe Allen, B.B. Burrell, Jim Miller, and Jesse West were hanged by an unknown mob for the murder of Gus Bobbitt. Jim Miller was a "hired gun" suspected of many killings, including that of Pat Garrett. The author was witness to the events, as a young boy. Dust jacket is lightly rubbed, else a fine, bright copy. Very scarce. SIX YEARS WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS, 1875 TO 1881.
First edition. Cloth, 332 pp., illustrations. A classic narrative, Gillett spent many years fighting Indians and outlaws in Texas and gives a colorful account of his experiences. Gillett joined Company D of the Texas Rangers at the age of seventeen and for the next six years he would be combating horse thieves and murderers, fighting in the Mason County War, capturing vigilantes and providing law and order for the towns. He was frequently called to combat dangerous Native Americans, particularly the Apaches, who were raiding, threatening or stealing from Texan inhabitants. Gillett served under Captain Dan W. Roberts and later Captain N.O. Reynolds in Kimble, Mason, Menard, Kerr, San Saba, Llano, Lampasas, Burnet, and El Paso counties. Gillett resigned in 1881, becoming City Marshall of El Paso and serving through 1885. Gillett turned to ranching, a life he lived until his death in 1937. "I regard Gillett as the strongest and straightest of all ranger narrators. He combined in his nature wild restlessness and loyal gentleness. He wrote in sunlight."---J. Frank Dobie. "The best of ranger autobiographies"---Stanley Vestal. "Perhaps the best account of the rangers ever published."---Peter Decker. "This is one of the finest personal memoirs of Texas Ranger service."---John H. Jenkins. A small water-spot on front panel and on lower fore-corner of rear panel, else a clean, bright copy in the very scarce dust jacket. Dust jacket shows moderate, uniform, general soiling with a darkened spine. Chipping to spine ends and corners, with 1" portion of upper fore-corner of dust jacket is missing. Very good-near fine. In all, a nice copy of an increasingly scarce work, especially in dust jacket. SPANISH SONGS OF OLD CALIFORNIA
First edition. 4to. Pictorial tan stapled wrappers [cover drawing by Ed Borein], 35 [1] pp., pianoforte accompaniments by Arthur Farwell. Musical scores printed throughout with verses in both Spanish and English. This collection of Californio-American folk songs captured by Lummis during his 20-year long project to collect Southwestern Hispanic-American song lyrics and music which were rapidly disappearing at the outset of the 20th Century. As founder of the Los Angeles Southwest Museum, he managed to convince the Archaeological Institute of America to fund his project to record Californio folk songs, after buying an Edison recorder, horn, and wax cylinders in 1904, and engaging the efforts of noted composer, Arthur Farwell. Although Lummis continually promised the Southwest Society that he was producing songbooks of the Several hundred songs transcribed and harmonized, by 1923, these fourteen were the first to be put in print. Many of the songs are still recognized, recorded, and performed by Hispanic-American artists, and groups. Lummis hired such noted Californio-American singers as Manuela Garcia, featuring Mexican-American guitarist Rosendo Uruchurtu, Rosa and Luisa Villa, the del Valle Family, Adalaida Kamp, and Francisco Amate. This copy is from the library of former California State Librarian, Gary Kurutz. Light wear to the spine panel with a small chip to top edge of the front cover next to the head of spine and a faint horizontal crease due to the booklet having been folded some long time ago. Overall a near fine copy. “UNCLE DICK” WOOTTON. THE PIONEER FRONTIERSMAN OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION. AN ACCOUNT OF THE ADVENTURES AND THRILLING EXPERIENCES OF THE MOST NOTED AMERICAN HUNTER, TRAPPER, GUIDE, SCOUT, AND INDIAN FIGHTER NOW LIVING
First Edition. Pictorial Cloth. 473pp.+1 page Advertisement by the Publisher. Frontispiece Portrait, plus 39 Plates. "Uncle Dick" hired on with Bent and St. Vrain in 1836 and was sent to Bent's Fort. In 1837 he began to trapping the Rockies then moved on to the Columbia, then on to California, and eventually trapping his way through Arizona and back to Bent's Fort. His Indian fighting experiences during this time period included fights with the Pawnees and Snake Indians. He guided military operations against the Navajo. He settled in Taos for a while, claiming to have driven 9000 sheep from New Mexico to California in 1852. In 1865, in partnership with George C. McBride, he began the enterprise for which he is best known. Over the roughest portion of the Santa Fe Trail, a stretch of 27 miles from Trinidad, Colorado, across the Raton Pass and down to the Canadian River, he built a substantial road, and near the crest erected a residence and an inn and set up a tollgate. The road opened in 1866 and proved highly profitable until the railroad paralleled his route in 1879. Some very slight to edges and corners. One plate detached, but laid-in. A handsome copy, clean, tight, with bright gilt on the front and the spine. Near fine. Protected in a custom slipcase. THE SCOUT AND RANGER: BEING THE PERSONAL ADVENTURES OF CORPORAL PIKE OF THE FOURTH OHIO CAVALRY, AS A TEXAN RANGER, IN THE INDIAN WARS, DELINEATING WESTERN ADVENTURE; AFTERWARD A SCOUT AND SPY.FULLY ILLUSTRATING THE SECRET SERVICE.
First Edition, Second Issue, with the frontis portrait in rectangle and the words "Jim Ned" at end of the third line on page 151. This copy does not have the errata leaf, as it is seldom present. 8vo. Original Black Cloth, embossed borders and monograms in blind on front and rear, gilt pictorial spine with publisher's name at bottom of spine, xi, [blank]. 19 - 394 pp., Frontispiece [portrait of Corporal Pike], Preface, Illustrated with "Twenty-Five Full-Page Engravings". Basic Texas Books 162 says, "This is an interesting reminiscence of a Yankee who became a Texas Ranger and later a Union spy. in early 1859, he joined John Henry Brown's Texas Ranger Company at Belton. During the next two years he saw almost continual action in the vicious Indian campaigns of that period, including ranger service under J. M. Smith. His recollection of these events are among the most vivid on record and, except for an occasional exaggeration, verifiably accurate." Tate Indians of Texas 2409 says, "A good firsthand account, filled with details about ranger operations against Comanches. Other Texas tribes are also covered." J. Frank Dobie says, "Pike tells a bully story to be ranked along with the personal narratives of those other two vivid ranger chroniclers, James B. Gillett and N. A. Jennings." "The work is also a thrilling account of border warfare against the Comanches, the Kickapoos, etc."-Vandale Two Hundred 133. Travels in the Confederate South 372 says, "This is a remarkable narrative, surprisingly true in its main discussion but undoubtedly embellished in details. It is peppered with characteristic travel incidents, local customs, and descriptions of the country traversed." Pike also received high praise from Generals Grant, Crook, Sherman, Thomas, and Sheridan for his work as a spy during the Civil War. After the war he returned to Ohio to write this book. Afterwards, he rejoined the army and went west to San Francisco assigned to Indian service. He died in 1867, due to an accident when his rifle jammed during an Indian attack, he angrily broke the barrel of his rifle over a rock which exploded the cartridge and he received a wound from which he never recovered."-Basic Texas Books 162. Moderate wear to edges and corners. Cracking to cloth on outer hinge of rear panel, yet remains tight. Small, half-inch by quarter-inch, gouge in cloth on lower rear edge of spine, and chipping to spine ends. Very good copy of a book rarely found in original cloth binding. FINDING MOON.
First edition. Signed by the author on the title page. The front and rear endpapers are maps of Southeast Asia. This is Hillerman's second non-Navajo novel, as it takes place in post-war Vietnam. A man finds himself, through a series of events, in Cambodia where the Khmer Rouge is turning the country into killing fields and Communist rockets are beginning to fall on the outskirts of Saigon. There are two original color illustrations by Native American artist Ernest Franklin who also has signed the drawing which is a large full-page drawing of three Asians in a small boat floating down a jungle river with an Army helicopter flying above them. The second signed color drawing appears on the half title page and is of an Asian man plowing a field with a bullock. Fine bright copy in a fine bright dust jacket housed in a slipcase. An exceptional copy and very scarce. ANSWERS OF AUGUSTUS STORRS, OF MISSOURI, TO CERTAIN QUERIES UPON THE ORIGIN, PRESENT STATE, AND FUTURE PROSPECT, OF TRADE AND INTERCOURSE BETWEEN MISSOURI AND THE INTERNAL PROVINCES OF MEXICO
STORRS, AUGUSTUS First edition. 8vo. Bound into a cloth binder with leather label on the spine and titles stamped in gold gilt, double column, 305-320 pp., of which pages 312-316 contain the report. A rare copy of the Niles Weekly Register report of Augustus Storrs, from January 15, 1825. Wagner/Camp 29: "During the summer of 1824 Augustus Storrs joined a trading expedition to Santa Fe. His answers to Senator Benton's questions describe the route, the characters of the country, the trade, the condition of New Mexico, and Indian depredations upon the traders.? Storrs provides detailed answers to 22 questions posed by Senator Thomas H. Benton. One of the first important documents about the Santa Fe trade and trail. Only three copies found on OCLC as of December 2015. A clean, fine copy in a sturdy, protective cloth binder. Light sunning to upper portion of cloth binder.- $600
- $600
ADVENTURES IN MEXICO AND THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
RUXTON, GEORGE F First Edition. 12mo. Original Red Cloth, titles stamped in gold gilt on the spine, viii, 332 pp., Preface. An important first-hand account of travel through Mexico to the Rocky Mountains in the 1840's. An Englishman, Ruxton was sent to Mexico in 1846 by the British Government to assure the British subjects in Mexico that, despite the current war between the U.S. and Mexico, England would protect them. Having completed his duty, Ruxton traveled northward through Mexico from Vera Cruz to Santa Fe. Unimpressed with Albuquerque and Santa Fe, he continued northward, missing by only days the Taos Uprising that killed many prominent Americans. Ruxton spent time among the trappers in the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado. He is famous for his descriptions of these trappers in his books. "No man was to equal him in his portrayal of the Rockies and their Mountain Men."--Theodore Roosevelt. Many scholars suspect that Ruxton was an agent of the British military "spying" on events associated with the Mexican War. He provided a very valuable professional estimate of Mexican arms and abilities as he saw them during the crucial months before the war as he traveled through Mexico to Santa Fe. He held a very low opinion of the Mexican character and of Mexican chances against the U. S. Some light rubbing and some very light edgewear. Very good-near fine. --AND-- LIFE IN THE FAR WEST, Edinburgh & London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1849. First Edition. 12mo. Original Red Cloth. xvi, 312pp. One of the great classics of the American Southwest. Ruxton had, in the words of LeRoy Hafen, "a genius for repeating the picturesque language of his trapper companions." and his mind was filled with trappers' tales he heard during his long winter at Pueblo. He linked the tales together in the form of a novel, in which there was no fiction except the names he gave to the two or three central figures. Ruxton died at St. Louis in August, 1848, at the early age of 27. The first 14 pages of this work tells of Ruxton's life and death, entitled "The Late George Frederick Ruxton". Previous owners bookplate on front endpaper. Some cracking to inner hinges, yet holding very well. Some rubbing and some very slight edgewear. Very good-near fine. Both volumes protected in a custom slipcase, with titles, author, and years of publication in gilt on leather label on spine. The rare offering of both of Ruxton's classic accounts of life in the Southwest and the southern Rockies.both in original bindings.- $1,100
- $1,100
ENJOY DELIGHTFUL DAYS ON SUNLIT TRAILS NEAR EL PASO, TEXAS – LAND OF SUNSHINE AND ROMANCE. WHERE TO GO – WHAT TO SEE – AN AUTHENTIC HISTORIC AND SCENIC GUIDE
[EL PASO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE] 9" x 8" in bright colorful pictorial cover with artwork by E.L. Boone. Rear cover offers a color illustration of the totem poles in the Big Room of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Folded in half to 32 panels, illustrations, 3 maps with one being a guide around El Paso and Juarez and including a key showing points of interest, important buildings, various businesses, etc.; the second being a sectional state map also showing some of New Mexico; and the third map entitled, "Here's How to Reach El Paso," and showing various federal highways from Chicago, Indianapolis or Jackson Missouri & Tennessee." Five panels of questions and answers about El Paso and Juarez. Eighteen 1,2,3, and 4-day car trips from El Paso. Black and white photographs include pictures of Mescalero Apaches, Mt. Baldy, Elephant Butte Dam, Signal Peak, Mitre Peak, scenery, etc. Light rubbing to spine and with light wear to the extremities and light soiling. Very good.- $350
- $350
CHEYENNE LANDMARKS. A PICTORIAL ESSAY OF INTERESTING BUILDINGS IN CHEYENNE IN 1876
WYOMING STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY First edition. Oblong 5 3/8" x 8 1/2" pictorial wraparound, stiff wrappers, 79 pp., introduction, illustrated from photographs, index. Wonderful photographs of interesting buildings in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1976. Fine copy.- $35
- $35
CAMP ATCHISON–NORTH DAKOTA, 1863.
ANON Original Photograph of a drawing of Camp Atchison. CDV. Image: 3.625"x 2.25". Mount: 4"x2.375". In response to the Sioux Uprising in Minnesota in August, 1862, two punitive expeditions, one under General Alfred Sully and one under General Sibley, went in pursuit of the hostiles, known to have fled to the Dakotas. General Sibley pursued in the direction of Devil's Lake, but learned that the Sioux were no longer there and were in flight to reach and cross the Missouri River. On July 18, 1863, upon learning this Sibley immediately established Camp Atchison in what is now east-central North Dakota. He garrisoned the new camp with 6 companies of infantry, 1 company of cavalry, 2 cannons, and the sick and disabled, naming it after Captain Charles Atchison, the command's Ordinance and Assistant Commissary Officer. General Sibley left 2 days later with 2500 men and 1000 horses. Twenty-one days later, Sibley and his troops returned to Camp Atchison, having marched 300 miles and fought 3 battles and several skirmishes in 21 days. Sibley's man's first battle was at Big Mound, and the Sioux attacked Sibley's troops at Dead Buffalo Lake and Stony Lake, but the big battle was Whitestone Hill. The Sioux had 100 men killed and another 100 wounded, with 156 captured. It's believed to be the largest number of Indian casualties of any one western Indian battle. On August 12, two days after his return to Camp Atchison, General Sibley and his men abandoned Camp Atchison and returned to Forts Snelling and Ridgely. Image shows some slight fading, else clean and undamaged. The imprint on the back of the mount dates this image to the period of 1863-1867. A very scarce image of a short-lived military camp of the Sibley Expedition of 1863.- $600
- $600
RAINBOW TRAILS. EARLY-DAY ADVENTURES IN RAINBOW BRIDGE COUNTRY
BABBITT, JAMES E. [COMPILED BY] First edition. 8vo. Color pictorial perfect-bound wrappers, vii [1], 136 pp., frontispiece, foreword, introduction, illustrated, portraits, map, additional readings. The "official" discovery of Rainbow Bridge was in 1909, although many Native Americans and old prospectors knew of its existence long before. However in 1910 it was designated as a national monument. Early-day accounts of adventures in Rainbow Bridge Country provide interesting information about the natural and human history associated with the area. The articles in this anthology represent the best writings about one of the world's great natural wonders. Fine, unread copy.- $35
- $35
ALASKA DAY FESTIVAL, INC. COMMEMORATING THE PURCHASE TRANSFER OF ALASKA FROM RUSSIA TO THE U. S. A.
HARDCASTLE, ROMAINE Pictorial wrappers, 8vo., 80 pp., illustrated mostly from photographs. Events and activities that commemorate the purchase transfer of Alaska from Russia to the U. S. A. on October 18, 1867. Covers are lightly used else a very good copy.- $20
- $20
SALOONS OF THE AMERICAN WEST, AN ILLUSTRATED CHRONICLE.
BROWN, ROBERT L. First edition. 4to. Pictorial boards with simulated leather spine. 144 pp., color frontispiece, foreword and acknowledgments, double column, profusely illustrated, many in color. Index. An interesting history of the "saloon" with many old photographs, art works, saloon tokens, saloon music and songs, etc. Fine, bright copy without dust jacket, as issued. .- $125
- $125
HALF MOON BAY. THE BIRTH OF A COASTSIDE TOWN
GUALTIERI, KATHRYN First edition. 8vo. Signed by the author on the front free fly leaf. Pictorial perfect bound, stiff wrappers, 113 [1] pp., frontispiece, introduction, acknowledgments, about the author, double column, illustrated, portraits, maps, selected bibliography, index. This story traces the evolution of a small coastal town in California. The people transitioned from Mexican settlement of Alta, California in the 1840s to independent self-governance as part of San Mateo County a decade later. As new, unread copy.- $45
- $45
