Western Fiction from Between The Covers Rare Books
Zane Grey rides a horse at Buffalo Jones' ranch.
One final Grey item: a photograph of Zane Grey on horseback, containing his signature and the note "Zane Grey -- Buffalo Jones's Ranch, Northern Arizona." Buffalo Jones was a buffalo hunter from the same period as Buffalo Bill, though he is not as well remembered because he never put together a Wild West show. However, as the buffalo herds quickly disappeared, he became a conservationist and reestablished several herds before the buffalo disappeared completely. Grey was a great admirer of Jones and undoubtedly thoroughly enjoyed his time on the latter's ranch. Item 95. $550.
Next to Grey, the best known western author could well be Louis L'Amour. Prolific and popular like Grey, his books came a little later. Item 126 is a first edition of Smoke from this Alter, published in 1939. This was L'Amour's first book, a volume of verse, and it includes an inscription from him. The book was evidently given as a prize on May 31, 1939. $4,500.
This is not your typical western, but it was the basis for one of the more entertaining western movies. Item 36 is The Ballad of Cat Ballou, by Roy Chanslor, published in 1956. A decade later, it would become one of the more amusing films of the time, earning a best actor academy award for Lee Marvin, as the drunken, broken-down gunslinger. The title role of Ms. Ballou was played by Jane Fonda. $125.
William S. Hart was one of the first of the film cowboys to achieve huge box office success, long before the likes of Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. However, Hart was not a singing cowboy. He wasn't even a talking one. Hart reached superstardom during the silent film era. However, his voice must not have matched people's expectations, as his career tumbled after "talkies" were introduced. Hart responded by writing a western novel of his own. Item 102 is Hoof-Beats, by William S. Hart, published in 1933. $125.
Here is a novel with a most novel comment on its front flap. This is a 1934 reprint of Trigger Slim, by Clem Yore. The note says that this edition is being offered at a reduced price, first because it was produced from the same plates as the first edition, but then because of "acceptance by the author of a reduced royalty." One wonders whether the publisher twisted poor Clem's arm for that one. Item 249. $225.
Between The Covers Rare Books is found online at www.betweenthecovers.com, phone number 856-665-2284.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 156: Cornelis de Jode, Americae pars Borealis, double-page engraved map of North America, Antwerp, 1593.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 206: John and Alexander Walker, Map of the United States, London and Liverpool, 1827.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 223: Abraham Ortelius, Typus Orbis Terrarum, hand-colored double-page engraved world map, Antwerp, 1575.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 233: Aaron Arrowsmith, Chart of the World, oversize engraved map on 8 sheets, London, 1790 (circa 1800).
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 239: Fielding Lucas, A General Atlas, 81 engraved maps and diagrams, Baltimore, 1823.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 240: Anthony Finley, A New American Atlas, 15 maps engraved by james hamilton young on 14 double-page sheets, Philadelphia, 1826.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 263: John Bachmann, Panorama of the Seat of War, portfolio of 4 double-page chromolithographed panoramic maps, New York, 1861.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 265: Sebastian Münster, Cosmographei, Basel: Sebastian Henricpetri, 1558.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 271: Abraham Ortelius, Epitome Theatri Orteliani, Antwerp: Johann Baptist Vrients, 1601.
Swann Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Color Plate Books December 9, 2025
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 283: Joris van Spilbergen, Speculum Orientalis Occidentalisque Indiae, Leiden: Nicolaus van Geelkercken for Jodocus Hondius, 1619.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 285: Levinus Hulsius, Achtzehender Theil der Newen Welt, 14 engraved folding maps, Frankfurt: Johann Frederick Weiss, 1623.
Swann, Dec. 9: Lot 341: John James Audubon, Carolina Parrot, Plate 26, London, 1827.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue, inscribed by the author pre-publication. £100,000 to £150,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 11: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Autograph sketchleaf including a probable draft for the E flat Piano Quartet, K.493, 1786. £150,000 to £200,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
![<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/00d5fd41-2542-4a80-b119-4886d4b9925f.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 11:</b> Darwin and Wallace. On the Tendency of Species to form Varieties..., [in:] <i>Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society,</i> Vol. III, No. 9., 1858, Darwin announces the theory of natural selection. £100,000 to £150,000.")
