Deluxe "Saddle Blanket" Edition of Tom Lea's "The King Ranch", 1st Ed.

The deluxe, two-volume "Saddle Blanket" edition of "The King Ranch" by Tom Lea. Kingsville: King Ranch, 1957. First edition, deluxe "Saddle Blanket" issue, limited to 3,000 unnumbered copies using custom-made inks and paper. Two large octavo volumes. [10], 467; [10], [468]-838 pages, including appendices, indexes, and notes. Both are illustrated with drawings by the author (some in color) along with maps and facsimiles. Bound in heavy crash linen meant to be a facsimile of a King Ranch saddle blanket. Deckled page edges, with the upper edges speckled. Housed in the publisher's slipcase with a leather gilt title label on its spine. With fair wear to the volumes, including light soiling and shelf wear to the covers and slipcase. Overall very fine.

The legendary King Ranch was founded in 1853 by Captain Richard King (1824–1885) as a cattle and horse ranch. Through the years the King Ranch founded two major American beef breeds, bred some of the all-time great race horses, and has significantly improved technologies to benefit livestock and wildlife management. Today it remains one of the largest working ranches in the country, growing from the original 15,500-acre ranch to a now sprawling 825,000 acres (a larger area than the state of Rhode Island).

This beautiful two-volume set provides a timeline of the first one hundred years of the ranch. The special "Saddle Blanket Edition" was reserved for friends and family of the ranch, and would make a rich addition and essential historical reference for any library.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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