Heroes of the Plains by J. W. Buel, Illustrated, circa 1880s

Buel, James W. Heroes of the Plains, or Lives and Wonderful Adventures of Wild Bill, Buffalo Bill, Kit Carson, Capt. Payne, “White Beaver,” Capt. Jack, Texas Jack, California Joe, and Other Celebrated Indian Fighters, Scouts, Hunters and Guides, including A True and Thrilling History of Gen. Custer’s Famous “Last Fight” on the Little Big Horn, with Sitting Bull; Also a Sketch of the Life of Sitting Bull, and His Account of the Custer Massacre, As Related to the Author in Person. St. Louis and Philadelphia: Historical Publishing Company, [N.D.] ca. 1880s. Octavo. Illustrated. In original cloth board and spine, stamped in black and gilt, rebacked, with a new archival slipcase. 

Presented is an attractive printing of Heroes of the Plains by James W. Buel. Published in St. Louis and Philadelphia by the Historical Publishing Company, this book retains its original green cloth boards and spine, stamped in glorious pictorial black and gilt. The book is profusely illustrated, with a decorative frontispiece, several full page plates, and in-text illustrations throughout.

This riveting book chronicles the extraordinary lives of Wild West legends, including General Custer, “Wild Bill” Hickok, “Buffalo Bill” Cody, Kit Carson, Captain Jack, “California” Joe Milner, and others. The book is filled with thrilling adventures of gun fights and showdowns, battles and skirmishes with Native Americans, and travel and hunting expeditions through the American west. Heroes of the Plains was first published in 1881, but updated and reissued several times throughout the 1880s, due to the success of the publication. 

The book provides an interesting look at the mythic heroes of the Wild West, as they were seen in their time by the American public. The biographical tales are careful to balance thrilling adventures and exploits with reassurances of their characters’ morality and justice. Buel claims that, “while this volume abounds with thrilling adventures, sanguinary encounters and personal combats of the most startling character…through every page there is observed a thread of wholesome justice, upon which is strung every deed recounted, preserving a forcible and moral influence beneficial to young and old alike."

James W. Buel (1849-1920) was an American author and journalist. He wrote over 40 books, many of them travelogues, biographies, or history books. He was a frequent contributor to national magazines such as Harper's Weekly and The Atlantic Monthly, as well as a newspaper reporter in Kansas City and St. Louis. Buel was the official historian of the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis.

CONDITION:

Good condition overall. Octavo. Illustrated. In original cloth board and spine, stamped in black and gilt. Archival touch-ups to front board and spine. Rebacked with green cloth. Interior pages are clean, without marks. Light toning, tears and loss to full title page and frontispiece, since repaired and stabilized. Presented with a new archival green slipcase with inlay. 

Book Dimensions: 8 1/8" H x 5 7/8" W x 1 7/8" D.

Slipcase Dimensions: 8 5/8" H x 6 1/16" W x 2 1/4" D.

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.