McALEENAN, Joseph A.
Diary of the Wyoming Bear Hunt
Brooklyn: Press of P. J. Collison, [1914]. Large 8vo. 59, [1]pp. 16 photogravure plates. Titlepage with title in a box in the upper left and vignette of a bear chasing a man at the lower right; on verso of titlepage: "Press of P.J. Collison & Co. Brooklyn-New York."
Half cloth and stiff brown printed wrappers. Front wrapper chipped at outer corners, bookplate on verso of front wrapper. Ink presentation inscription on titlepage somewhat faded. Some offsetting from the plates, one plate loosening. In a cloth chemise and half morocco and cloth slipcase, spine gilt.
A presentation copy, inscribed on the titlepage from McAleenan to "My Dear Archbishop," modestly disclaiming any literary merit.
A rare and engaging day-by-day journal of a bear hunt in Wyoming, with interesting photographs. The bear hunt, which took place in April and May, was on the Majo Ranch of Jones Bros. & Magill, and the hoped-for prey were grizzlies, brown, and black bears. McAleenan, a New York sportsman, writes: "We were very fortunate in securing the only permit to hunt in the Shoshone Game Preserve on Table Mountain. As this section has not been shot over in many years our prospects for the bear hunt were very good." He describes their train trip to Wyoming, the springtime snow storms that hit the region, their hunting experiences, and life in camp. The photographic plates show the members of the expedition and the landscapes and vistas of Wyoming, and a few show the hides of bears that were killed. Not in Phillips' "Sporting Books." OCLC locates copies only at Yale and Brigham Young University. We are also aware of the Streeter-Litchfield copy, a copy presented to Harlow Brooks, and the William Beach-Samuel Webb copy.
Streeter 4130; Heller 222; Litchfield 75; Howes W728; OCLC 54200246.
Item #36205
Price: $17,500.00