Over, Under, Around Or Through' (1917); 'Paso Por Aqui' (1926); And 'The Proud Sheriff'' (1932) First Appearances Of All Three Stories

EUGENE MANLOVE RHODES

Other works by EUGENE MANLOVE RHODES

Publication: The Curtis Publishing Company (The Saturday Evening Post), 1917, 1926, 1932, Philadelphia

First edition. Small folio. With 275-word manuscript INSCRIPTION.on front free fly leaf. A fine copy in 3/4 burgundy calf and complementary pebbled cloth, ruled and titled in gilt, with Edward H. Crussell's typed label; Crussell's bookplate and Rhode's 1934 newspaper obituary on the front pastedown sheet. The three stories each made their first appearance in The Saturday Evening Post, 1917; 1926; and 1932.

Bernard DeVoto, J. Frank Dobie, Jeff Dykes and William Reese all were unanimous in their high praise of Eugene Manlove Rhodes (and Dobie considered 'Paso Por Aqui' his masterpiece).

Sacramento bookseller Crussell was a great admirer of Rhodes and had these three complete first appearances - 'Over, Under, Around or Through;' 'Paso Por Aqui;' & 'The Proud Sheriff' - custom bound and sent to Rhodes for his signature.

Rhodes responded with a warm ~275-word manuscript ffep inscription ("Your building of this book is best possible evidence that you really like these yarns. I thank you.") and advises he is correcting 'Paso Por Aqui' (prior to its publication in the book 'Once in the Saddle'), He laments "to my sorrow" 'Over, Under, Around or Through' was published in book form with the title 'Copper Streak Trail' (preferring "Copper Hill Trail" and sharing "Personally, I liked Robt E. Lee Carr, I was well acquainted with that lad)."

Rhodes goes on to point out "In 'The Proud Sheriff' I have made one correction - in chapter VIII;" he affectionately refers to May, his collaborator and muse, as "My favorite wife;" and closes with an update of the real life characters who recur in his books ("Johnny Dines lives and thrives at Hillsboro, Cole Railston is at (or more accurately near) Magdalena and Jeff Bransford is an old man in El Paso, Jack Farr an old man at Oscuro and Johnny Pardee - (who is Bob Martin) drove down to see me yesterday."

One story was illustrated by Harvey Dunn (1884-1952) and two stories by W. H. D. Koerner (1878-1938). All three stories are profusely and tastefully done.

The book contains the Post's April 1921 issue's illustrated front cover (featuring the story); the interior pages of the other two stories; Crussell's typed transcription laid in. Fine copy.

Inventory Number: 54285