THE COWBOYS

New York: Stein and Day, 1971. First printing. Fine in near-fine jacket.. Signed first edition of the Western by the gay rights icon, written as a companion to the film treatment for what would become the acclaimed movie starring John Wayne. Jennings was one of the founders of the Mattachine Society, one of the earliest gay rights organizations in the United States; after his arrest for allegedly soliciting a police officer in 1952, Jennings's decision to pursue a highly publicized trial (rather than a quiet plea deal) brought a wider awareness of the Gay Rights Movement: "the Mattachine members took elaborate precautions to keep their identities secret. Thus it was Mr. Jennings whose courage made him a permanent icon - and the infant movement's first hero" (Clendinen). Jennings continued to be an active participant in the Gay Rights Movement, especially as a writer. Even after selling a film treatment of the COWBOYS, Jennings ran into obstacles finding a publisher because of the book's homoerotic content. After working on multiple drafts with Bantam, the publisher still rejected the book: Jennings ended up placing it with the smaller publisher Stein and Day. 8.25'' x 5.5''. Original quarter red cloth, blind-stamped orange paper boards, gilt-lettered spine. In original unclipped ($5.95) photographic dust jacket designed by Bertie Hoover with photo by Bob Willoughby. [10], 242 pages. Signed by Dale in blue ink on half title. Faint edgewear to spine extremities.