OKLAHOMA! Politically and Topographically Described -- History and Guide to the Indian Territory

Ramsey, Millett & Hudson, Kansas City, 1885, 1885. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. 12mo gilt-stamped & decorative blind-stamped tan colored cloth (bibliographies also cite an edition in wrappers). 150pp. Illustrated with many engravings. Also there is a page reproducing the "Certificate of Membership in Osburn's Oklahoma Colony" (its constitution is printed in this book).Two pages of advertising (E. C. Cole's Real Estate, Kingman, Kansas, and Bank of Kingman, each a full page). Lists of Schools & Teachers (5 pp.). We have laid in a facsimile copy of the rare, original color-toned map, engraved by the publishers. Howes indicates that this map was not issued in all copies (perhaps they were removed because they were not attached). The title page continues, "Biographical Sketches of Capt. David L. Payne, W. L. Couch, Wm. H. Osborn, and others -- A Complete Guide to the Indian Territory, Illustrated with Map, Hunting and Fishing Grounds, by (authors)." E. E. Dale, in his bibliography of the range cattle industry, says of this book: "A small volume prepared especially for the purpose of advertising the lands known as 'Oklahoma' and to urge their opening to settlement. Interesting and valuable as a contemporary account of conditions in the Indian Territory and along the border but must be used with care because of its frankly controversial character." The bias of this book is indicated with one of the headings: "Railroads and Cattle-Kings Dictating to Congress". Contents include portions of treaties & gov. docs, newspaper reports & "Oklahoma Stories" taken from them. As with regional books of this nature printed in this era, each extant copy may be missing a plate or two that will be found in another copy, and vice versa. In this copy "Camp Alice", facing p56, was absent & a facsimile from another copy has been tipped in. Condition: a very good copy. There is a small dimple on the back cover with loosening of threads around it (pencil diameter). Very slight soiling to the cloth. The signature/gathering following page 16 is pulled a little from the binding & is slightly loose. One of the rarest of all Oklahoma books & published when the Boomers were becoming bold in their suit to open lands for white settlement. Herd 1140, Howes J3, Rader 2032, Graff 2174, Hargrett Gilcrease Imprints p290 ("excessively rare").