Wild Sports In The Far West

FREDERICK GERSTAECKER

Publication: Crosby, Nichols and Company, 1859, Boston

First American edition with the color plates. Brown embossed cloth, xi [blank], 396 pp., preface, illustrated from eight color plates. 12mo.Translated from the German. German Hunter, Frederick Gerstaecker was called "The White Bear" by Indians because of his reputation as a great hunter of bears, panthers, and wolves in the sparsely populated wilderness of Arkansas during the years 1839 to 1842. "The book contains entertaining accounts of close scrapes with bears, panthers, and wolves as well as rough hard-drinking frontiersmen and pioneers." The author's journey from New York to New Orleans was primarily a "leisurely" one. Also included are adventures in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas. Affixed to a preliminary sheet is a small photograph of Gerstaecker taken about 1869. He died in 1872. Dobie says: "Nothing better on backwoods in the Mississippi Valley .... Delightful reading and revealing picture ...." Book is complete and intact with all signatures resewn, front and rear spine internally reinforced, tiny chip to top corner of front free fly leaf, spine panel has been replaced for an overall very good, tight copy.