Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - June - 2007 Issue
Clark Rare Books is Back with more Western Americana
George and Libby Custer in happier days. Courtesy Library of Congress.
Here is a most appropriate book for a Clark catalogue: The Arthur H. Clark Company: An American Century 1902-2002, by Robert Clark and Patrick Brunet. This is a signed centennial edition limited to 100 copies. It recalls both the bookselling and publishing sides of the business, the latter of which had published over 700 books at the time. Many of these are highly regarded, collectible works on the West. Item 33 is a new copy. $350.
Item 60 is a 1960 facsimile reprint of the 1889 title Bella Starr: The Bandit Queen, or the Female Jesse James. The fact that it starts out with Belle Starr's name as "Bella" is perhaps an indication of the accuracy of this book. Belle Starr's biographer, Burton Rascoe, states of it, "This narrative does not have a single essential fact correct." The book was first published in the year Belle died, shot in the saddle, which probably inspired this sensational, though inaccurate, story of her life. She grew up in Missouri and knew the James and Younger Brothers, but her husbands were seemingly more small-time crooks. There is little evidence she participated in her husbands' crimes, except for a conviction for horse-stealing, which earned her the name "Bandit Queen." Nonetheless, she was a little known figure until this fictional novel about her was written after her death. $50.
Item 134 is a suppressed Mormon item from 1910, Among the Shoshones, by Elijah Nicholas Wilson ("Uncle Nick"). This is a copy of the rare first edition. Wilson tells of his experiences as a Pony Express rider, trapper, rancher, and Indian agent, who often lived among the Shoshone. However, what got this book suppressed was his bitter account of how he lost his Mormon fiancée to a polygamist. This section was removed from subsequent editions. $2,950.
Here is a biography of a man of whom you probably never heard, but he was evidently a fine man who deserved this recognition: Dr. Eugene Charles Gehrung (1840-1924): An early Denver obstetrician and gynecologist. The author, Nolie Mumey, was a prolific writer, which is a good thing, as Dr. Gehrund would likely have been forgotten to history were it not for this book. Item 51. $45.
You may reach Clark Rare Books at (email) info@clarkrarebooks.com telephone 405-307-0088.
