The West Texas Frontier, Or A Descriptive History Of Early Times In Western Texas Containing An Accurate Account Of Much Hitherto Unpublished History. Two Volumes

JOSEPH C. MCCONNELL

Publication: Privately printed for Joseph Carroll McConnell, 1933 & 1939, Jacksboro & Palo Pinto

First Edition. 8vo. Volume I: Original Maroon Cloth, gold stamping on front cover and spine, (6) III (3), 334 pp., Introduction, Illustrated. This rare, privately printed work has escaped the notice of bibliographers. This book has never been reprinted. Many first-hand accounts of Indian encounters which mostly involved the Texas Rangers. Accounts that discuss ranch life and raids on cattle and horse herds, with cowboys in pursuit of the raiders. Includes numerous individual West Texas county histories. Reviews in quite some depth Jim Bowie, Big Foot Wallace, Capt. Jack Hays, Ben and Henry McCulloch, as well as many others such as Texas Rangers and U.S. Cavalry Indian fighters. Excellent content. Some very slight rubbing to edges and ends of spine, else a fine, clean, tight copy. Signed presentation by author on front free-endpaper. Volume II: [Palo Pinto: Texas Legal Bank & Book Co., 1939]. First Edition. 8vo. Original Maroon Cloth, gold stamping on front cover and spine, (6), 348 pp., Introduction, Illustrated, Index. Volume II presents 823 accounts of incidents, fights, and pitched battles between Texas Rangers, civilians, and the U.S. Cavalry and the Plains Indians, primarily Comanches, during the 1870's and 1880's. Many of the accounts are by or about Col. Buck Barry, Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie, Col. Charles Goodnight, Capt. J. C. Loving, Oliver Loving Jr., Captain Dan W. Roberts, Capt. James R. Moss, Major John B. Jones and many more. Accounts include Goodnight's story of Oliver Loving, his last trail drive and murder by Comanches, and a long account of the Comanche raids leading to their pursuit by Captain L. S. Ross and his Texas Ranger Company, their fierce fight with Comanches that led to the recovery of Cynthia Ann Parker, and a detailed account of Cynthia Ann's comments and behavior immediately after her recovery, including many details not found elsewhere. Some light rubbing to edges and ends of spine, else a fine, clean, tight copy. As previously stated, Volume I was missed by all the bibliographers except Rader's, South of Forty which lists only Volume I as entry number 2281. The second volume was privately printed in 1939 to even less notoriety than Volume I received, and is not listed by any bibliographers. This is only our second set, in 40+ years, of this rare work. A handsome set housed in a cloth slipcase with leather labels on spine, with titles, author and years of publication in gilt.