Range Murder: How the Red Sash Gang Dry-Gulched Deputy United States Marshal George Wellman -- A Vignette of the Johnson County War in Wyoming.
Evanston: The Branding Iron Press, 1955. Paperback. Narrow small 8vo. Stiff tan wrappers. 20pp. Very good. Minor wear to outer wrappers (only), else internally tight and fine. Item #44321
First, "Limited Numbered Edition" (this copy stamped #131) of this unusual little pamphlet. Brayer's address to the Chicago Westerners chronicles this Michigan lawman whose murder on May 10, 1892, was solved almost half a century later. A pink printed "Word in Explanation" slip laid in remarks, "While it certainly will win no graphic arts awards, collectors of Western Americana will see in it an interesting historical contribution in the traditional format of the rare ephemeral pieces which are so avidly sought in every out-of-the-way book shop and community in America. It's [sic] unusual imprint -- Owensville, Indiana -- is certain to make it additionally valuable to the collector...." A trade edition of 1000 unnumbered copies differs only in having a front wrapper illustration; this scarcer limited numbered edition fails to state the limitation, but we've seen a copy numbered #280, so the print run must have been circa 300 or more copies.
Price: $55.00