Welcome to Back of Beyond Books' recent acquisitions list. While we specialize in books of the American West, these listings will run the gamut of genres. You're receiving this list because you've either purchased from us or are a friend in the business. If you prefer not to see these monthly postings you may easily unsubscribe using the link at the bottom of the page.
If you haven't already checked out our most recent catalogue follow this link to view it! Catalogue No. 23
This week's list features a nice mix of books and letters. Most picks are Western or Native Americana, with books about John C. Frémont, Stephen H. Long, and Chief White Bull. Other selections include signed copies of books by Katie Lee and Barry Lopez.
We buy collections and maintain want lists. Books are subject to prior sale and may be held for one week. Any item is returnable within two weeks for a full refund. Dealer discounts and institutional billing are available for all books we offer.
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Thank you,
Andy Nettell
Back of Beyond Books
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The Expeditions of John C. Fremont
[Volumes 1-3, Volume 2 Supplement, and Map Portfolio]
Jackson, Donald; Spence, Mary Lee (editors)
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Urbana, Chicago: London University of Illinois Press. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Hardcover. Five volume set including Volumes 1-3, Volume 2 Supplement, and the Map Portfolio. Publication dates: 1970, 1973, 1984. All volumes have red-orange cloth boards with maroon title labels and gilt lettering. Volumes 1-3 have tan dust jackets with black lettering and a portrait of Fremont on the front; Volume 2 Supplement does not have a dust jacket; the Map Portfolio includes 11 folded maps housed in hardcover portfolio which is then housed in a tan slipcase. Volume 1: 854pp, dust jacket is price clipped, else fine. Volume 2: 519pp, fine condition. Volume 3: 641pp, light soiling to edges, else fine. Volume 2 Supplement: 464pp, no dust jacket, boards have moderate wear and soiling, black marker on rear pastedown, else good. Map Portfolio: slipcase has moderate soiling and an impact mark on the top edge, else very good. Overall the set is in very good condition.
This series "deals with the aspect of Fremont's career which was most significant in his time - his exploratory journeys across the West." The volumes cover travels from 1838 to 1844, the Bear Flag Revolt and the court-martial, and travels from 1848-1854. Shipping will cost extra due to weight of books. Large 8vo 9" - 11". 022773. $250
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Fremont - Pathmarker of the West [Volumes I and II]
Nevins, Allan
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New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co., 1961 Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Second Printing. Hardcover. Two volume set. Republished for the American Classics Series in 1961. Both volumes have pictorials dust jackets with Mylar coverings; dust jackets are price clipped, else very good. Green cloth boards have gilt lettering on spine and top edges are dyed red. Boards and text blocks are in fine condition.
An extraordinary portrait of explorer, writer and politician John C. Fremont, and a comprehensive view of his era. Large 8vo 9" - 11" tall; 689 pp. 022771. $28
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Fremont's Fourth Expedition -
A Documentary Account of the Disaster of 1848-1849 with Diaries, Letters and Reports by Participants in the Tragedy
Hafen, Leroy R. & Ann W. (Editors)
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Glendale, CA: Arthur H. Clark Company, 1960. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Hardcover. Volume XI of the Far West and the Rockies Historical Series. Green boards with gilt lettering on spine; top edge dyed red, fore and bottom edges deckled. Boards have moderate shelf wear, else very good.
An account of John C. Fremont's fourth expedition which was the first effort to survey a central route for a railroad to the Pacific. Large 8vo 9" - 11" tall; 319 pp. 022768. $35
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Retracing Major Stephen H. Long's 1820 Expedition -
The Itinerary and Botany
Goodman, George J.; Lawson, Cheryl A.
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Norman & London: University of Oklahoma Press, 1995. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition:
Fine. Hardcover. Blue and white dust jacket with b&w illustration on front and back; dust jacket has Mylar cover. Green cloth boards bright gilt lettering on spine.
This book on Long's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains contains a day-by-day account of the route of the expedition and a study of the botanical specimens brought back by expedition botanist, Edwin James. Large 8vo 9" - 11" tall; 366 pp. 022770. $38
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The Journal of Captain John R. Bell - Official Journalist for the Stephen H. Long Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, 1820
Fuller, Harlin M.; Hafen, Leroy (Editors)
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Glendale, CA: Arthur H. Clark Company, 1973. Condition: Good. First Edition, Second Printing. Hardcover. Volume VI of the Far West and the Rockies Historical Series. Green cloth boards with gilt lettering on spine; fore edge deckled, top edge dyed brown. Light soiling and shelfwear; top edge has moderate dampstaining that affects the front pastedown and endpaper.
Published for the first time in its entirety, Bell's journal contains a detailed record of the expedition from the Missouri River to the Rocky Mountains and return to the Mississippi River. Large 8vo 9" - 11" tall; 349 pp. 022769. $18
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General Crook in the Indian Country and
A Scout with the Buffalo-Soldiers
Bourke, John G.; Remington, Frederic
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Palmer Lake, CO: Filter Press, 1997. Condition: Fine. Reprint. Hardcover binding over original booklet. Booklet reprints two magazine articles published in the late 1800s. Light brown textured boards with gilt lettering on cover. Boards have very slight rubbing on edges, otherwise fine. No dust jacket. Glue in front gutter where booklet is attached to binding is beginning to crack, but is still holding tight. Booklet is in fine condition except for mark where a sticker was removed. Includes black and white illustrations.
This booklet contains two magazine articles about General George Crook and his participation in the Indian Wars. The first is by Captain John G. Bourke, who served under General Crook for many years, and was published in The Century Magazine in 1891. The second was written and illustrated by Frederic Remington and appeared in The Century Magazine in 1889. 8vo 8" - 9" tall. 022763. $20
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E. V. Sumner: Major-General United States Army (1797-1863)
Stanley, F.
Signed First Edition
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Borger, Texas: Jim Hess Printers, 1969.
Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition. Hardcover. Signed by the author on first free end paper. Blue cloth boards with gilt lettering on cover and spine. Boards have slight rubbing along edges, otherwise fine. Illustrated dust jacket with black lettering on spine is wrapped in Mylar. Jacket has a few small tears along top edge and some soiling. Exterior edges of text block have very mild soiling. Tight binding and clean interior. Portrait of General Sumner on jacket cover and frontispiece is from a painting by the author.
This biography of Edwin Vose Sumner covers his lengthy military career as an officer in the U. S. Army, including his participation in the Black Hawk War, Mexican-American War, and Civil War. 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 382 pp. 022754. $22
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A Concise History of New Mexico
Prince, L. Bradford
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Cedar Rapids, IA: The Torch Press, 1912. Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Hardcover. Green boards with black lettering on cover and spine. Slight rubbing along edges, mostly to corners, hinges, and head and tail of spine. Both ends of spine are creased and beginning to fray, with small tear on tail. Mild soiling. No dust jacket. Some page signatures show early signs of cracking, but binding is still tight. Interior has some light toning and small tears to a couple pages, otherwise clean. Includes some black and white photos.
Written by the President of the Historical Society of New Mexico, this book covers the history of New Mexico from the original Native American inhabitants to its achievement of statehood in 1912. 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 272 pp. 022759. $55
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Civil War Era Letter with Content on the War, Presidential Nominations and Religious Sermons [1864]
Huntington, Henry
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Condition: Very Good. A great letter that mentions the Civil War, John C. Fremont's presidential nomination, and the niceties of being a pastor during that time. The letter is dated "Warner, June 6, 1864." Addressed to "O. E. Huntington Esq., Cleveland, Ohio". Postmark reads "Warner N.H. Jun 8" and 3 cent stamp is still affixed. Letter measures 5" x 8" and is 4pp. Written in a clear hand. Envelope has light soiling, else very good.
This letter was written by Henry Huntington of Warner, New Hampshire to his father O. E. Huntington in Cleveland, Ohio. Henry starts off his letter with the subject that was most prominent of the day: the Civil War. "Bad news, indeed, that is about James Hitchcock - I pity his parents. God grant that Richmond many not much longer be in the hands of the rebels;- though whether our prisoners in their lands wd[would] then be better off, is doubtful…How splendidly Grant is driving Lee! If one could only forget the fearful price paid for every victory." In this passage Henry mentions James Hitchcock, a Union soldier captured during the Battle of Drewry's Bluff, Virginia. Hitchcock was sent to the notorious Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia and died there because of horrible conditions. James Hitchcock and Henry Huntington were cousins. On the next page there is mention of presidential candidate, explorer and Civil War general John C. Fremont: "Did you attend any of the sessions of the Cleveland Presidential Convention? What do you think of Fremont's course holding aloof fm[from] the administration as he has done, & is now accepting the nomination?" The Cleveland Convention brought together a group of Republicans critical of Lincoln's conduct during the War to form a new political party and nominate a rival candidate to run against him in the 1864 election. The next two pages are mostly about the difficulty of choosing a subject for his sermons; there were just so many subjects to choose from. He asks his father, O. E. Huntington, a long time merchant of Cleveland, for advice. And then there is a sweet postscript: "Are there any mosquitoes in Cleve.? Seems to me there cannot be; they are all here - on a convention." A short letter packed with references to important happenings of that time. 022775. $150
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Letters on Mining Operations in the
Red Mountain Mining District of Colorado [1885]
Murdoch, James
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Condition: Very Good. Set of two manuscript letters by James Murdoch, a mining engineer and superintendent, about mine operations in Ouray, Colorado. Written on personal letterhead with printed location of Silverton, Colorado and dated to March 22 and July 17, 1885. The March 22nd letter is 6pp and the July 17th letter is 1pp. Letters measure 8 ½" x 11". Letters have light toning, else very good.
James Murdoch writes to J. E. Gay about mining operations and finances in detail. The letters discuss plans and current undertakings in the Lout and Maid of the Mist Mines near Ouray, Colorado. "If you think I might venture, I should like to spend 500 dollars in putting the upper draft on Maid of the Mist 50 feet further before getting the crosscut in…" Murdoch also writes about proceeding with the patents of the Fitzgerald Lode and Mill Site. This area in the San Juan Mountains is associated with the Red Mountain Mining District and boomed in the early 1880s. A nice set of letters from a booming Colorado mining district. 022776. $200
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Letter to a Soldier from His Sisters in a
Rural Farming Town in Iowa [Civil War Era]
Larimer, Mollie
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Condition: Very Good. Manuscript letter written to John Larimer from his sisters Mollie, Nancy, Ada and Florrie Larimer. The letter is dated, "Queen City, Iowa - July 13th, 1865". Letter measures 5 ½" x 9" and is 4pp. Missing the envelope. Letter has light soiling at fold lines and a few words were written so lightly they are hard to decipher. Overall very good.
John Larimer was a soldier; his sisters hoped that he would be "mustered out by now." The letter was written from Queen City, a small Iowa farming community that was established in the mid-1850s, flourished in the 1860s and declined in the 1870s. Snippets from the letter include news from town and updates on a few soldiers: "Queen City has improved considerably this summer. There is no new buildings but there is more people" and "Josephine Stiekel and a soldier from the 4th Iowa Cavalry - he came home on a Wednesday and they were married on Thursday, they had never seen each other before" and "This has been a very wet season. The bridges have pretty much all been washed away…there was a soldier drowned on Monday at the Riggs grove in a big slough on this side of the Platt…he belonged to the 39th Iowa Cavalry, was in Sherman's army." Native Americans are briefly mentioned: "We have not had a letter from Ellis for a good while the last we had was dated June 16th. He was then on his way home he said he would not get to Kerney[Kearney, Nebraska] before the middle of this month. The Indians are pretty bad out there again." A good Civil War era letter that provides news of life in rural Iowa. 022774. $50
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Lettersheet, Announcement and Bill from
Haslucks & Co. Saddlery Ware, New York City 1844
Buck, W. J.
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Condition: Very Good. Manuscript & Printed Letter 4-page bifold lettersheet in very good condition with just a little light soiling. Lettersheet in cursive type.
Sheet is utilized as a stampless letter and announcement of the sale of the inventory of the entire stock of the firm Haslucks & Buck, to their employee W. J. Buck. The firm was located at 209 Pearl Street in New York City. The letter appears to have a New York City circular postmark and addressed to J. Smith & Co. in Hartford, CT, dated March 2, 1844. Includes an inventory of items purchased from W. J. Buck by J. Smith & Co. , destined for a customer in New Orleans, LA. Curious that the printed lettersheet states the former owner as both Haslucks and Hasluck. An 1839 New York City directory names the company Haslucks & Buck. To this cataloguer's eye, a very pleasing mid-19th century item of ephemera. 022766. $125
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Inner Gorge Metaphors
Supplee, Serena
Signed Limited Edition
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Moab, UT: Lily Canyon Books, 2005. Condition: Fine. Limited Edition, First Printing. Hardcover. Limited edition of 100 copies, this is number 47. Inscribed by the author and artist Serena Supplee on the half-title page and signed again on limitation page. Purple cloth boards with small reproduction of painting affixed to cover and silver lettering on cover and spine. Boards have mild soiling, otherwise fine. No dust jacket. Tight binding and clean interior. Includes 52 reproductions of watercolor and oil paintings by Supplee.
This book shares Serena Supplee's gorgeous paintings of the inner gorge and rapids of the Grand Canyon accompanied by short poetic captions. 4to 11" - 13" tall. 022755. $250
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All My Rivers Are Gone - A Journey of Discovery through Glen Canyon
Lee, Katie
Signed Copy
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Boulder, CO: Johnson Books, 1998. Condition: Very Good. Softcover. Signed by Katie Lee on half title page. Pictorial wraps with "autographed copy" sticker on front wrap. Wraps have sunning and 1" of dampstaining along the bottom edge, marginally affecting about 20 pages of text.
"Glen Canyon was one of the most beautiful places on earth, but today this exquisite eden lies drowned under billions of tons of water… Katie Lee was among a handful of men and women who knew the 170 miles of Glen Canyon very well. She'd made sixteen trips down the river, even named some of the side canyons. Her descriptions of a magnificent desert oasis and rich archeological ruins are a paean to paradise lost. Glen Canyon and the river that ran through it were the loves of her life… In All My Rivers Are Gone, Katie Lee tells us what there was to love about Glen Canyon and why we should miss it." The fabulous Katie Lee passed away at the age of 98 in November 2017. Large 8vo 9" - 10" tall; 260 pp. 022764. $125
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Arctic Dreams: Imagination and Desire in a Northern Landscape
Lopez, Barry
Signed Copy
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New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1986. Condition: Good. Softcover. Signed by the author on half-title page, dated May 20, 1989. Illustrated wrapper with iceberg on cover and white lettering on cover and spine. Wrapper has slight shelf wear along edges and some scratching. Spine is faded with vertical creases and wear along hinges. Gutters have started to crack, but binding is still tight. Clean interior. Includes numerous black and white maps.
This book paints a detailed portrait of the Arctic and its landscapes, wildlife, and people based on the five years that acclaimed author Barry Lopez spent there working as a biologist. 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 464 pp. 022756. $30
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Petroglyphs and Pictographs of Utah:
Volume Two: the South, Central, West and Northwest
Castleton, Kenneth B., M. D.
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Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah Museum of Natural History, 1987. Condition: Very Good. Revised Edition. Softcover. Brown and grey wrappers with light sunning and creasing along spine and light wear to wraps. Tight binding and clean interior. Volume Two only.
Book covers rock art in Northwestern Utah, Western Utah, Central Utah, Southwestern Utah, Kanab Area, Southeastern Utah, Canyonlands National Park, and South-Central Utah. This classic has gone out of print and is becoming difficult to find. 4to 10" - 11" tall; 356 pp. 022765. $80
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The Rocks Begin to Speak
Martineau, Lavan
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Las Vegas, NV: KC Publications, 1973. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. First Edition, Second Printing from 1976. Hardcover. Red cloth boards with silver lettering on cover and spine. Boards have slight rubbing along edges and some soiling. Illustrated dust jacket with black lettering on cover and spine. Not price clipped. Chipping and tearing to head and tail of jacket spine. Creasing along edges and some soiling. Spine is faded. Tight binding and clean interior. Includes black and white photos and illustrations of numerous rock art panels.
This book offers interpretations of Native American petroglyphs from self-professed expert LaVan Martineau. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall; 210 pp. 022757. $25
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A Zuni Atlas
Ferguson, T. J.; Hart, E. Richard
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Norman And London: University of Oklahoma Press, 1985. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. First Edition. Hardcover. Yellow boards with blue and white lettering on spine. Mild soiling and shelf wear to boards. White pictorial dust jacket with blue and yellow lettering on spine. Jacket has significant soiling and scratching as well as some slight shelf wear on edges. Top edge of text block is darkened by dust. Tight binding and clean interior. Black and white photos, maps, and diagrams throughout. Laid in are a press release for the book and a letter to Karl Gilmont of Indian-Artifact Magazine asking him to review the book.
This book examines a variety of topics concerning the Zuni people of New Mexico including their history, ethnology, archaeology, and modern development. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall; 154 pp. 022712. $28
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Warpath: the True Story of the Fighting Sioux
Told in a Biography of Chief White Bull
Vestal, Stanley
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Lincoln And London: University of Nebraska Press, 1984. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. Hardcover. Reprint of book originally published in 1934. Black paper boards with gilt lettering on spine. Slight creasing to head and tail of spine, otherwise fine. Illustrated dust jacket with grey lettering on cover and spine. Jacket has two small tears on top edge; shelf wear and creasing along edges. Tight binding and clean interior. Includes some black and white photos and maps.
Based on an interview between the author (Walter Campbell using a pen name) and Chief White Bull, this biography tells the first-hand story of the famous warrior, the Sioux, and Custer's Last Stand. 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 291 pp. 022760. $22
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Native American Art and the New York Avant-Garde:
A History of Cultural Primitivism
Rushing, W. Jackson
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Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 1995. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Hardcover. Black cloth boards with red lettering on spine. Slight rubbing along edges and mild soiling. Front board is somewhat warped away from text block. Tan illustrated dust jacket with red and black lettering on cover and spine. Slight shelf wear and creasing along edges of jacket, otherwise in near fine condition. Tight binding and clean interior. Includes reproductions of art throughout, mostly in black and white with some color.
This book examines how avant-garde artists of the Modernist period were influenced by Native American art and culture. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall; 250 pp. 022753. $70
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Back of Beyond Books
Andy Nettell, Proprietor
83 N Main Street, Moab, UT
800.700.2859
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.
Edward Abbey
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