72. CLAY, John. My Life on the Range.
Chicago: Privately printed, [1924]. [viii] 366 pp.,
frontispiece portrait, illustrations. 8vo, original dark
green cloth with title in gilt on front cover and spine,
t.e.g. A very fine, bright copy.
First
edition. Adams, Herd 475: "One of the most
sought after cattle books"; Guns 434: "He relates
many incidents of the Johnson County War and tells about
Tom Horn...His picture of ranch life is authentic."
Athearn, Westward the Briton, p. 191. Campbell, p.
22. Dobie, pp. 98-99: "His book is the best of all sources
on British-owned ranches. It is just as good on cowboys and
sheepherders...He appreciated the beautiful and had a sense
of style." Dykes, Collecting Range Life Literature,
p. 12. Graff 748. Harvard Guide to American History
p. 428. Howes C478. Jennewein, Black Hills
Booktrails 153. Merrill, Aristocrats of the Cattle
Country, p. 16. Rader 841. Reese, Six Score 19:
"Clay represents a banker’s view of the range cattle
industry better than any other writer....He played an
important part in financing several large companies, and
was instrumental in the reorganization of the failed Swan
Land and Cattle Co. The book is best on the Wyoming ranges,
where British investment was heaviest." Vandale,
Texianameter 34.
($&150-300)