Beschreibung:

GOUGHNOUR, Emanuel. Across the Plains in "49. [Libertyville, Iowa, ca 1908]. 12 o (166 x 116 mm). Half-tone illustration of Bison and a portrait of the author. Original black blindstamped leather, gilt-lettered on upper cover (few repairs to spine, lightly rubbed); red quarter morocco slipcase. FIRST EDITION, PRESUMED ONE OF ONLY SIX COPIES. PRESENTATION COPY, inscribed on the title: "E. Goughnour Livingston Mont." "The first twenty-one pages detail Emanuel Goughnour's trip across the plains via Fort Laramie and South Pass. The author began his trek on April 16, 1849, from Libertyville, Iowa, and arrived in Hangtown (Placerville) on August 22. He spent the next three years mining, merchandizing, and freighting (with some success) in and around Placerville and Michigan Bluff. His wife died after only one year of marriage, which precipitated his return to Iowa. While the book itself reveals little publication data, the Holliday catalogue states that Goughnour wrote Across the Plains in "49" in 1908 at the age of seventy-seven years and had one made for each of his children (there were six)" (Kurutz). VERY RARE: The last copy to appear in auction records was the Holliday copy, 1954, the description of which quoted a letter from Goughnour's granddaughter dated 5 May 1938: "When grandfather wrote this book (first a small leather bound volume) he had one made for each of his children (there were six). One copy has been lost as it was loaned to a friend by grandfather. We didn't learn of this until after his death and we have been unable to trace it..." Kurutz records five copies in institutions: California State Library, California Historical Society, Yale, Newberry, and the University of Oklahoma. If indeed only six copies were printed as Goughnour's granddaughter states, this copy is then the only available copy. Cowan p. 850; Graff 1601; Holliday 439; Howes G-271; Kurutz 281; Mintz 183.