The Boy Hunters, or Adventures in Search of a White Buffalo (With Laid-In 1730 Letter) by Captain Mayne Reid - 1854

Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1854. Decorative Cloth. Very Good +. William Harvey. The 1854 2nd edition (?) of this uncommon juvenile tale of hunting and exploration. Written by the trapper and hunter Mayne Reid, who was elevated to Captain in 1845 during The Mexican War. A very well-preserved copy to boot: Tight and VG+ in its light-brown boards, with decoartive blindstamping and bordering to the panels, and elaborate gilt-design and titling along the spine. Internally, very clean as well, with light foxing to the pastedowns and endsheets but very little throut the text. Thick 16mo, 364 pgs., a number of engraved illustrations thruout by William Harvey. THIS COPY ALSO INCLUDES A WONDERFUL LAID-IN LETTER (UNRELATED) FROM A WILLIAM C. LODER TO A MR. CRESSEN OVER THE DELIVERY OF 2 BARRELS (COSTING 45 CENTS EACH) OF SWEET POTATOES TO BE TRANSPORTED ON THE SLOOP HENRI GULLIE TO PHILADELPHIA FROM BALTIMORE. The letter is clean and well-preserved and very legible, having been folded into thirds and carefully maintained. A nice piece of 18th century Americana to add to this mid 19th century tale of adventure for boys.