Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - July - 2004 Issue
Western Americana From William Reese
Cattle brands from the original Loving Brand Book.
Not forgotten is Francis Parkman’s 1849 report on his journey, though he did not travel nearly as far as the other explorers. His The California and Oregon Trail… remains one of the classic American West travel narratives, and this is a copy of the first edition, second printing (the miniscule first printing is unobtainable). Item 171. $4,250.
One of the most thorough studies of the West at mid-century was created as part of the effort to build the transcontinental railroad. Produced in 1855-1860 under the supervision of Secretary of War Jefferson Davis (yes, that Jefferson Davis), the twelve-volume set is called Reports of Explorations and Surveys, to Ascertain the most Practical and Economical Route for a Railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. It is filled with information about the West along with important maps from the time. Item 169. $6,000.
Texas is one of the most popular subjects for collecting today, and this catalogue carries many items pertaining to the Lone Star State. One of the earlier attempts to settle Texas came from a group of French veterans in 1818. They landed at Galveston and attempted to build a settlement along the Trinity River. The attempt was not successful, and the starving survivors retreated to New Orleans. That’s why Mardi Gras and Cajun cooking are associated with New Orleans, not Houston. Le Texas…, taken from the diaries of Hartman and Millard, is item 88. $5,000.
One of the earliest biographies of a major Texas figure is Charles Lester’s very authorized Sam Houston and His Republic. Some went so far as to say that it was really Houston himself who wrote much of this work. Certainly it was not unflattering, and some found the part about “his” Texas a bit presumptuous, but with the benefit of hindsight, Houston emerges as one of if not the towering figure of early Texas. Item 114. $1,250.
Speaking of the other Houston, the city, item 94 is the Westmoreland Farms Amended First Subdivision map from 1911. There are no farms in Westmoreland Farms anymore. It is now a land of skyscrapers and freeways, encompassing part of the Bellaire area, Bellaire Boulevard, Bissonnet and the Southwest Freeway. $900.
What is Texas without cattle? Here’s George Loving’s The Stock Manual Containing the Name, Postoffice Address, Ranch Location, Marks and Brands of All the Principal Stockmen of Western and North-Western Texas… Drawings display the brands on cattle and horses of the various ranches that existed in Texas in 1881. In the era of the open range, a record of brands was essential to preventing cattle rustling. Item 127. $12,600. For those interested in brands, item 161 is the Brand Book of the Territory of New Mexico. This is a 1906 rare title providing a complete list of brands from the territory. $900.
