HUNTING TALES OF THE WEST: INSCRIBED BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT WHILE PRESIDENT

ROOSEVELT, Theodore. Hunting Tales of the West. New York: Current Literature Publishing Company, 1907. Four volumes. Small octavo, early half black morocco. Housed in two custom half blue morocco clamshell boxes. $6000.

Early collected edition, boldly inscribed by Roosevelt during his presidency: "To Thomas F. Dawson Esq. with the regards of Theodore Roosevelt. Stamboul, La. Oct 21st 1907." Additionally contains the clipped signature of James Garfield tipped to front endpaper.

Composed of Hunting Tales of a Ranchman and The Wilderness Hunter, this collection of Roosevelt's hunting stories encompasses a wide variety of American game, from wild geese to grizzly bears. Roosevelt noted, "My object in writing these books was not only to give a full account of the chase of every kind of big game proper to the United States, but also where possible to touch on their life histories… I write for my fellow ranchmen and fellow hunters, and for the young men of America, in whose veins the red blood of life runs lustily, and who joy in the strenuous pleasure that comes only as the prize of toil and exposure in the open." "Midway through Roosevelt's third term [in the New York State Assembly] in 1884, his wife died after giving birth to a daughter. He immersed himself in legislative matters to the end of the session, then sought solace on his ranch in western Dakota—'a land of vast silent spaces, a place of grim beauty'… For a while the 25-year-old widower considered a life of ranching, hunting, and writing" (ANB). Hunting Trips of a Ranchman, published in 1885, was written during this Dakota sojourn. The Wilderness Hunter was first published in 1893. With frontispieces. The recipient, Thomas F. Dawson, served as Executive Secretary of the U.S. Senate during Roosevelt's administration. Bookplates of Chalmers Hadley.

Slightest traces of rubbing to some joints. A scarce inscribed set in very nearly fine condition, handsomely boxed.