WILLIAM JONES | WHITE TIGER | THE FAR CRY | THE KEY OF THE FIELDS AND BOLDERO; [four inscribed books together with a 2-page AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED and two TYPED LETTERS SIGNED].
New York: [various], 1912 - 1925. First edition of each. All four are INSCRIBED TO A FELLOW RIDEOUT. Henry Milner Rideout (1877-1927) was the author of 16 novels, a biography, and numerous short stories. Although not well-remembered today, his work was celebrated in its time.
The collection includes:
WILLIAM JONES: Indian, Cowboy, American Scholar, and Anthropologist in the Field (Frederick A. Stokes Co., 1912), INSCRIBED on front endpaper, "For Mrs. J. B. Rideout with best wishes from H. M. Rideout" (very good with light wear to spine ends and corners);
WHITE TIGER (Duffield, 1915), similarly INSCRIBED and dated "October, 1915" (good or better with browning to edges of frontis and title page and spine lettering perished);
THE FAR CRY (Duffield, 1916), similarly INSCRIBED with the addition of "compliments of the season" and dated "Christmas, 1917" (good with spine faded, spine lettering barely readable, and front cover title lettering rubbed but still readable);
THE KEY OF THE FIELDS AND BOLDERO (Duffield, 1918), similarly INSCRIBED and dated "February, 1918" (midline gouging to fore edge of text block resulting in chips and tears to margins, otherwise about good).
THE INSCRIPTIONS & LETTERS ARE ALL TO ANNIE GRANT RIDEOUT (aka Mrs. John Byron "J. B." Rideout), who authored ANCESTORS & DESCENDANTS OF SARAH ELEANOR LADUE (1930) and ANCESTORS & DESCENDANTS OF MORRIS A. BRADLEY (1948) as "Mrs. Grant Rideout." As evidenced by the contents of the letters included herein, she was gathering material for a Rideout family history that was never published.
AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED: 2 pages, front and back of single sheet of pale blue "Linolyne Bond" paper, dated "Sausalito, California/ January 2, 1916," mentions his brother, Dunning, suggests a line of inquiry for her search, discusses hosting a large New Year's party from which "we are just recovering," mentions an unnamed "interminable" story just sold to The Saturday Evening Post, etc. (shows creases from folding and old paper-clip shadows not affecting text).
TYPED LETTER SIGNED: 1 page, beige "Certificate Bond" paper, dated "Sausalito, California/ March 25, 1924," expresses sympathy for her recent illness, discusses a "blank form" he has sent on to Ransom Rideout, congratulates her on nearly completing her book and requests a proof of his entry, sends news of daughters Cecily and Clara, and information on "the Threshers," etc. (one tiny edge tear, creases from folding).
TYPED LETTER SIGNED: 1 page, half-sheet off-white printed letterhead, dated November 17, 1925, mentions passing on to her a letter from "another inquirer about Rideouts," discusses the sudden death of his brother Dunning's wife and taking her body to Calais, Maine, for burial, etc. (one crease from folding).
Item #52483
Price: $650.00