"ADDING GREATLY TO THE CUSTER LEGEND": TENTING ON THE PLAINS, GENERAL CUSTER IN KANSAS AND TEXAS

(CUSTER, George A.) CUSTER, Elizabeth B. Tenting on the Plains or General Custer in Kansas and Texas. New York: Charles L. Webster, 1889. Octavo, original gilt-stamped pictorial green cloth, "shoulder-strap" spine symbol, patterned endpapers. $850.

Second edition, issued by Mark Twain & Charles Webster’s publishing firm in a series displaying the gilt-decorated “shoulder-strap” on the spines, with frontispiece portrait and 28 illustrations.

Perhaps General Custer's most fervent defender, Elizabeth Custer wrote this book as part of a trilogy of autobiographical works focusing heavily on her husband. In Tenting on the Plains, which has been credited with "adding greatly to the Custer legend," Elizabeth Custer described "their marriage and experiences in the Civil War and subsequent Indian campaigns" (ANB). Preceded by the 1887 edition. This handsome 1889 edition was part of a "shoulder-strap" series in Mark Twain's brief but impressive venture into publishing with Charles Webster, who was married to Twain's niece. With profits dwindling by the late 1880s, it was decided to re-kindle interest by issuing the firm's military memoirs, including those by Grant, Sherman, McClellan and Sheridan, in special bindings featuring gilt-decorated "shoulder straps" on the spines. By 1892, however, Twain and Webster's publishing venture ran aground and went bankrupt in 1894. Rader 1009. Eberstadt 105:101, 122:86.

Interior fine, inner hinges expertly reinforced, cloth about-fine with one small mark to rear board, slightest wear to extremities.