HOME RANCH

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1935., 1935. First edition. First edition. 8vo. Burnt orange cloth, titles in black on front cover and spine, xvii [blank], 346 pp., preface, illustrated in black & white. Will James tells the story of life on the Seven X--a story of hard work, tough humor, and longtime friendships. Join John B. and his family on the home ranch as they round up long horns, ride circle with the cowboys, and try in vain to keep tenderfoots from the city out of trouble." Don Frazier says of this book: "In spite of the weakness of some of the illustrations, as stated below, this is a good and descriptive book about cowboying and ranch work. The presence of the obnoxious dudes in the story gives clear examples of, and graphic counterpoint to, the many and varied skills that a real cowboy must have to get every day's work done. You don't learn those skills in just weeks and months. Some don't learn them in years and years. This copy inscribed on the front free fly leaf: "To Cal Godshall / A Merry Christmas to you - / and as for the New Year may / it be happy and repeat, for / you to see - in your own hopes - / such as it is at the end of this / story - / Sincerely / Will James '35." A photograph affixed to the front pastedown sheet showing Will James with pen in hand signing this book and a copy of "Scorpion." At the bottom of the rear pastedown sheet is the stamp of "Mr. & Mrs, C. H. Godshall, Ihmsen Ranch, Victorville, Cal." It was at Cal Godshall's ranch that Will James died on Sept. 3rd, 1942. Moderate wear to the spine ends and corners, rear internal spine column loosening, else a good copy in dust jacket with price mark corner torn away with light wear to the spine ends, corners and extremities