96. DYER, Mrs. D. B. "Fort Reno" or Picturesque
"Cheyenne and Arrapahoe Army Life," Before the Opening of
"Oklahoma." New York: G. W. Dillingham, 1896. 216 pp.,
frontispiece, 10 photographic plates. 12mo, original dark
blue cloth, stamped in black and gilt. Minor shelf rubbing,
otherwise fine. The Josey copy with their bookplate.
First
edition. Eberstadt 114:601: "One of the few
authoritative narratives of army-post life in Indian
Territory and among the Indians in the early days. The
author was the wife of the first mayor of Oklahoma City.
Her book, printed in a small edition is a desideratum."
Graff 1191: "The author’s husband...resented certain
allusions to his conduct and succeeded in destroying many
copies." Graff 1191. Howes D619. Rader 1250. Pingenot:
The experiences of an Indian agent’s wife. Mrs.
Dyer’s husband, Colonel Dyer, the first mayor of
Oklahoma City, so resented his wife’s allusions to his
conduct in her book that he divorced her and succeeded in
having most of the books destroyed; thus creating a rarity.
Mrs. Dyer was the daughter of Dr. N. R. Casey of
Illinois.($150-300)