Western Fiction from Between The Covers Rare Books

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.

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Western Fiction from Between The Covers Rare Books

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Western Fiction from Between The Covers Rare Books

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