Rare and First Edition Books from Buckingham Books

Dealer in Rare and First-Edition Books:  Western Americana; Mystery, Detective, and Espionage Fiction

Reminiscences Of Fifty Years In Texas. JOHN J. LINN

Reminiscences Of Fifty Years In Texas.

JOHN J. LINN

Other works by JOHN J. LINN

Publication: Published For The Author By D & J Sadlier & Co, 1883, New York

First edition. 8vo. Original maroon cloth, pictorial embossed front and rear panels, titles stamped in gilt on the spine, 369 pp., frontispiece [portrait of the author], introductory, illustrated, plates, errata. This privately printed narrative relates largely to the fight for independence of Texas. BTB 127 says, "This volume of personal recollections, written by an early Texas pioneer leader, is one of the basic sources on the revolutionary period. The book was actually ghost-written for the 85-year-old Linn by his old friend Victor M. Rose, but Linn's thoughts and frontier philosophy are predominant throughout. I find Linn to be outspoken but not opinionated, and to be far more accurate and less prejudiced than many of the more important figures of the times --- than Houston, Anson Jones, and Burnet, to name a few. Linn's appraisal of Sam Houston, for example, hits closer to the truth than most other contemporaries." Linn was a native of Ireland who came to Texas as a merchant in 1830, opened a warehouse and general store in Victoria, Texas, and founded the town of Linnville. Linn includes a section on "the Comanche raid," "the burning of Linnville," and the taking of Mrs. Crosby and child prisoner. Errata page tipped to page 369, as is the case with many copies, label correctly placed on the plate titled "The Alamo," which is actually a woodcut of Goliad Mission done by Bross, [the publisher corrected the error by having a label pasted over the caption]. Former owner's penciled name on the front free fly leaf, a few penciled notations throughout the text, moderate wear to spine ends, corners, and fore-edges else a very good copy of a book usually found faded and with discoloration to the cloth. A very difficult book to find in this condition.

Inventory Number: 48121Sold -- Contact us