Mississippi Manuscript Brand Book 1845-1869

Publication: Privately printed, 1845-1869, Sunflower County, Mississippi

First edition. 12" x 8" quarter leather spine and blue paper over boards, n. p. [36 pp.], [4 pp. blank], [4 pp.]. All brands and description are in manuscript. This is a most unusual brand book. Some actual brands are shown as drawn and others are described. Some writing on the covers mentions Sun Flower County, Mississippi. Perhaps there were ranchers in the vicinity. This is the first and only manuscript brand book we have seen or heard about for Mississippi or a printed version.

This manuscript brand book, with reference to Sunflower County, Mississippi, presents numerous hand-drawn brands and descriptions. We are unaware of any printed or manuscript brand books from Mississippi. The period of 1845 to 1869 is very early for any brand book!

Sunflower County was formed 15 Feb 1844 from Bolivar County. It was named for the Sunflower River which flows through it. One early settler, B.G. Humphries later became the Govenor. Other notable settlers were: James J. Chenning (Chewning), G.B. Wilds, Col. Eli Waits, J.Y. McNeill (mcMeal), Col. Hezekiah McNabb, Ezekiel McNabb, Mayor Frank Hawkins, and Capt John Hawkins. Research of an 1847 tax list and a list of federal land grants given to individuals in the area offer names of early landowners .... Several of these names and brands are included in this brand book. (lists included)

Not listed in Adams' Rampaging Herd. We feel this is a very rare brand book. Original blue cover paper is chipped, else a very good copy, housed in a cloth clamshell case with leather label on the spine and titles stamped in gilt.