Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - July - 2008 Issue
Film, Writer, and an Early New Mexico Collection from James Pepper Rare Books
Twenty-six documents from another Indian agent, Capt. Harry L. Dodge, who was agent to the Navajos. These primarily pertain to financial matters. Dodge later participated with Meriwether in writing up an agreement with the Navajos, only to have it rejected by the Senate, and was killed on a hunting trip in 1856, probably by a different band of Indians.
A letter from Lt. Col. Philip St. George concerning the whereabouts of Jane Wilson, who was captured and held by Comanches after some unpleasantness between them and her family. Most of her family did not survive, but she was held as a slave for a few weeks before escaping and hiding out until rescued by friendlier Pueblo Indians.
There are many more documents in this collection. As a historical note, this was the period in which the Gadsden Purchase, which added new land to the New Mexico territory south of the previous border, was being completed. The collection, item 9, is priced at $75,000.
Item 4 is an interesting collection of correspondence from the great actor Alec Guiness to the obscure actress Leueen MacGrath, from 1975-1991. They had worked together years earlier, and were obviously very close friends, though there is no indication that they were ever anything more. Guiness had a long distinguished career, his most memorable role perhaps being that of the unbending British Colonel in The Bridge on the River Kwai (for which he won an Academy Award as Best Actor), though most younger audiences probably remember him as Obi-wan Kenobi from Star Wars. MacGrath's highlight is her credit as co-writer of Silk Stockings, the musical featuring Cole Porter's music, though she was certainly assisted in this credit by the fact that she was married to the legendary playwright George S. Kaufman at the time. $4,000.
James Pepper Rare Books may be reached at 805-963-1025 or pepbooks@aol.com. Their website is www.JamesPepperBooks.com.
