The Story Of Cole Younger, By Himself. Being An Autobiography Of That Missouri Guerrilla Captain And Outlaw, His Capture And Prison Life, And The Only Authentic Account Of The Northfield Raid Ever Published. Illustrations Made Expressly For This Book

COLE YOUNGER

Publication: Press of the Henneberry Company, 1903, Chicago

First edition. 8vo. Original pictorial wrappers bound into a cloth hardcover edition with a facsimile of the front cover, 123 pp. plus 2 pages, frontispiece, (three portraits), "Why This Book Is Here," by Cole Younger, illustrated from photographs and drawings, portraits, plates, afterword, advertisement. "Born near Lee's Summit, Missouri, Thomas Coleman ("Cole") Younger (1844-1916) rode with William Clarke Quantrill's Confederate raiders during the Civil War, participating in many daring and bloody exploits, including the infamous Lawrence, Kansas, massacre of 1863. Following the war, Younger continued his celebrated career as a desperado, robbing banks and trains with Jesse James and other members of the James-Younger gang. A fateful attempt in 1876 on the Northfield, Minnesota, bank sent Cole to the state prison in Stillwater, Minnesota for decades. There he became a model resident, helping both to protect women convicts during a fire and found the Prison Mirror, a newspaper intended to shed 'a ray of light upon the lives of those behind the bars.' Paroled in 1901, Younger successfully sought a pardon, operated a Wild West show with his old comrade Frank James, and lectured on 'What My Life Has Taught Me.'" Six Guns 2470 says "excessively rare." This is a rare outlaw item that is seldom offered for sale. The original front wrapper also has a facsimile of the first edition bound-in, a few small, closed tears and nicks to the fore-edges of a few pages, else a very good tight copy. Housed in a cloth clamshell case with front cover facsimile adhered to the front cover and titles stamped in white on the spine.

Inventory Number: 52974