Publication: Printed and Published by the Author, 1889, Pottstown, PA
First Edition. Original Three-Quarter Calf, with Marbled Boards. 200pp. Frontis portrait. Illustrations. Although Graff 4089 indicates listing of 12 illustrations, our copy lists 21 illustrations, as does most bibliographies. Graff and Howes both note that the illustrations in the volume don't specifically follow the order as listed, and also lists illustrations that are not present, while including illustrations that are not listed. Our copy has 18 of the 21 Illustrations listed, has 4 Illustrations that are not listed, as well as 4 small vignettes. Of significant Western reminiscences and narratives, in this original edition this is one of the most difficult to find. It was set-up and printed by the author, on a little rotary hand-press he had erected in the back of the Hartranft Mansion in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He was able to print a small, but unrecorded quantity, which was quickly exhausted. A second edition did not appear until 7 years later, in Washburn, North Dakota. The sub-title states:" the Author's Personal Recollections of Noted Frontier Characters, and Some Observations of Wild Indian Life during a Twenty-Five Years' Residence in the Two Dakotas and other Territories, Between the Years 1864 and 1889." Taylor's preface states:"The material for this work was gleaned from observations made during an Overland Trip across the Plains in 1864-5; a term Soldiering on the Border; a Journal to Fort Randall, and up the Dakota River; a residence in Wyoming and Montana, and a continuous life in the Dakotas and Northwest till 1889." "contains interesting sidelights on several of the participants--Charley Reynolds, Mark Kellogg, Bloody Knife, Gall..."-Luther, Custer High Spots. "Taylor lived in the Dakotas from 1864-1889. His memoir contains descriptions of the Upper Missouri Valley and it's inhabitants, including various local Indian tribes, in the closing days of the frontier, before the completion of the railroad in the 1870's and 1880's."--Bill Reese, The Best Of The West 203. Flake Supplement 8851b: "Tells of the Mormons around Omaha after being expelled from Illinois and before leaving for Deseret." Rebacked in matching leather with the portion of the original spine that had the gilt imprint of the title and author retained, with bright gilt imprint. Light wear to edges of decorative boards. Text block clean and tight. An exceptionally nice copy of this rare and crudely printed and bound work. Protected in a beautiful custom clamshell box with title, author, and year of publication in gilt on leather label on spine.
Inventory Number: 53373