CITY BOOK AUCTION. Sales of Books, Autographs, etc., held every Saturday at 1.30 P.M. Catalogues free. Consignments solicited. Rates on request.
120 Fourth Ave., New York City
Stick ’Em Up
As a preface to “Books on Western Gunmen,” by Guy J. Giffen, in the Quarterly NEWS-LETTER of the Book Club of California, an editorial note states that not the least interesting subdivision of Americana is that relating to the bandits and gunmen of the Old West. The extensive literature on the subject offers a tempting field to collectors with a taste for the history and legend surrounding this phase of the Winning of the West. Mr. Giffen’s extensive library of books on Western outlaws is the result of a hobby of years’ standing.
Mr. Giffen’s article maintains that any well-rounded collection of Western Americana should have a division of books on gunmen, and mentions a number of men and titles that will serve as a general guide to their selection. Of particular interest are the books on Murrieta. “Joaquin Murrieta, the Brigand Chief of California” was published by the CALIFORNIA POLICE GAZETTE in 1854, and is now very rare, only two copies being known, both in private collections. According to Franklin Walker as set forth in “San Francisco’s Literary Frontier,” John Rollin Ridge, partly of Indian blood, who came to San Francisco in 1850, furnished the GAZETTE with much of its source material when he wrote “The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murrieta, the Celebrated California Bandit.” In 1859, the GAZETTE reprinted the story with additions but also in this instance, only two copies are known to have survived. Of the many later treatments of Murrieta, one of the best is “The Life and Adventures of the Celebrated Bandit Joaquin Murrieta,” translated from the Spanish of Ireno Paz, by Frances P. Belle. (Chicago, 1925).
Edward Eberstadt & Sons
Specialists in Old and Rare Books Relating to the Far West
55 WEST 42nd STREET
NEW YORK