My Life on the Plains.

CUSTER, General George A.

Item Number: 19044

New York: Sheldon and Company, 1874.

First edition of Custer’s classic account of Western Americana. Octavo, original blue cloth, gilt titles and tooling to the spine and front panel. Illustrated with eight full page wood engravings by A. Roberts, including a portrait of Custer and four portraits of chiefs. In near fine condition with light rubbing. A very nice example.

Originally serialized in Galaxy magazine between 1872-74, Custer’s fascinating autobiography of life as a cavalryman fighting Native-American tribes on the plains appeared in book form only two years before his last stand at Little Bighorn. Introduced by his sketch of the landscape and speculations on the history and nature of the “Indian,” Custer’s narrative begins with the expedition of Major-General Hancock in the spring of 1867 and ends with the Washita campaign on the frontiers of Kansas. Howes C981. Graff 961. Luther 7. Jones 1566. Eberstadt 121:97.