"The Log of a Cowboy: A Narrative of the Old Trail Days" by Andy Adams, illustrations by E. Boyd Smith, published by Houghton and Mifflin, Boston and New York. First Edition, second state without year on the title page, copyright 1903 by Andy Adams, "Published May, 1903" without any other printings on the copyright page.

Hard boards, original pictorial tan cloth stamped in brown, black, white and gilt [some surface and shelf wear]; faded pencil inscription dated "1910" on the front endpaper; 5.1/4" x 7.5/8"; frontispiece with tissue guard, [x] + 387 pages, map and 5 monochrome plates on glossy paper [all listed plates are present]; some moderate soiling [a couple pages are more stained: see photos], very good condition.

"The Log of a Cowboy, brings to life an important, yet short-lived, piece of the American Old West. It is here that the cowboy earned his reputation and admiration, and it is through protagonist Tommy Moore that we learn of some of the challenges of the legendary cattle drive. Run-ins with Indian tribes, cattle hustlers, shoot-'em-ups, and the lure of "good whiskey and bad women," are just some of the troubles that Moore faces, all told with that classic cowboy swagger.

It is not just the thrill of adventure that makes this such a fascinating tale; "The Log of a Cowboy" is often seen as a narrative of Andy Adams's own life after twelve years in the saddle, and although some liberties were taken, it remains one of the most reliable accounts ever written, helping cement the lawless, and revered, Wild West into a national subconscious. Through Moore we learn cowboy colloquialisms like "drifting" and "cutting," the perils of stampedes, and the innate intuition of these frontier men.

Adams deftly weaves stories within a story, bringing fabled cattleman Shanghai Pierce into this literary world, spinning tales of occult sciences, hitchhiking ox, and astonishing "bear signs." Much like the Pony Express, the cattle drives of the Old West remain an essential part of American culture, and Adams's narrative helps to keep it alive through the generations." [a review]

Andy Adams (1859-1935) was born in Indiana to pioneer parents. In the early 1880s he moved to Texas, where he spent the next ten years driving cattle along the Western trail. At the age of forty-three, he published The Log of a Cowboy, his most successful book. Andy Adams is celebrated as one of the most important chroniclers of the range cattle industry & of cowboys. He was the author of "Wells Brothers" and "The Ranch on the Beaver," among other works.

Elmer Boyd Smith (1860-1943) was an American writer and illustrator of children's books and painter.

Smith studied art in Paris with Gustave Boulanger and Jules Joseph Lefebvre at the Academie Julian from 1881 to 1884, and also with H. Lefort for several years. In the early 1900s he moved to Wilton, Connecticut, where he spent the remainder of his life. He illustrated more than seventy books for both adults and children, beginning with "My Village" in 1896, written while he was living in France. His first children's book was "The Story of Noah's Ark" in 1905.

Note:
Country restrictions may apply, the lesser expansive Priority shipping may not be available to all countries.

US: Priority (c.2-4 days) ---------- $20.50
Canada: Priority (c.2-6 weeks) ---- $41.50
World: Priority (c.2-8 weeks) ----- $52.50