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Covered Wagon Women [181661]

Currency:USD Category:Books / Antiquarian & Collectible Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 900.00 USD
Covered Wagon Women  [181661]
UNCLAIMED MERCHANDISE: In the event that a successful bidder has paid in full for their merchandise but fails to settle outstanding shipping invoices or make arrangements for merchandise pickup within 60 days, HWAC reserves the right to declare the merchandise forfeited. This forfeiture will result in the merchandise becoming the property of HWAC and the successful bidder shall have no claim to or rights over the forfeited merchandise.
HOLMES, KENNETH L., EDITOR AND COMPILER - Covered Wagon Women. Diaries & Letters from the Western Trails 1840-1890, Volumes I Through XI - Overland Diaries –
Diaries, Letters and commentaries of women over the Western Trails, 1840-1903. Arthur H. Clark, Glendale, CA, 1983-1991. Eleven Volumes, Hardcover, all first editions. All volumes, mint, protective paper cover, as issued w/o dj but have the plain white paper cover supplied by the publisher. A total of 3,108 pages, each volume is illustrated with selected portraits, volume one has a fold out map of the routes of the Covered Wagon Women, volume eleven has a large fold out map in the rear pocket of the Western Emigrant Trails 1830-1870, Major Trails, Cutoffs, and Alternates; volume eleven also has an index for all volumes and a bibliography for the series, there were various print runs for the series with the lowest print run being 1500 copies, hence the maximum first edition sets would be 1500 copies. These actual letters and diaries written by women describing the day by day events of trip on the overland trail to California, Oregon and Utah - and an occasional odyssey back the other way, comprise a classic in Western Americana literature. The diaries are reprinted verbatim, with no changes in spelling, punctuation etc. Each volume is introduced by the editor with historical background and identification of characters wherever possible.Volumes II-IV pertain to the Gold Rush. Kurutz 340.

Volume 1 covers letters, etc. from 1840-49 with original prospectus (brown paper cover). Volume 2: letters etc. from 1850. Volume 3: letters etc. from 1851. Volume 4: letters etc. from 1852 – The California Trail. Volume 5: letters etc. from 1852 – The Oregon Trail; also has a prospectus detailing the first five volumes. Volume 6: letters etc. from 1853-4. Volume 7: letters etc. from 1854-60. Vol.8: letters etc. from 1862-65; also has a prospectus detailing the first eight volumes. Volume 9: letters etc. from 1864-68. Volume 10: letters etc. from 1875-83. Volume 11: letters etc. from 1879-1903. The last volume contains a pocket map of the westen emigrant trails 1830-1870 showing the major routes, alternates and cutoffs. “The series was very successful for the publisher”, (Clark & Brunet, The Arthur H. Clark Company. A Bibliography and History #124); Clark Bibliography #144, also Mintz: The Trail, 233, 234, 235, 236., Kurutz #340.

This set was initiated by Dr. Holmes after years of working and collecting in the field. His interest was in presenting the material before the public in a readily available form for reference and reading. This work constitutes very complete and detailed accounting of the overland experience as seen through women's eyes. This set appears to be all first print runs shipped by subscription. All volumes, mint, protective paper cover, as issued w/o dj but have the plain white paper cover supplied by the publisher.