Wanderings Westward from Michael D. Heaston Rare Books & Manuscripts

Michael D. Heaston Rare Books & Manuscripts has published their Catalogue Fifty-Seven, Wanderings Westward. This is a look at America in the 19^th and early 20^th century, as Americans moved into and settled the West. There are books, maps, broadsides, manuscripts, and various ephemeral items. A land that at the beginning of the period belonged to Indians and buffalo became a part of America as we know it today. The changes were both quick and dramatic. This activity is well-documented in the often obscure material Heaston is offering. These are a few selections.

This book provides a look at America at the beginning of the aforementioned time period, Travels of Four Years and Half in the United States of America; During 1798, 1799, 1800, 1801, and 1802. Dedicated by Permission to Thomas Jefferson, Esq. President of the United States, published in 1803. Author John Davis came to America seeking literary employment, which he more or less achieved by using his experiences to write this book. He traveled through Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York. It wasn't easy as he walked all the way. He explained it was the only mode of transportation he could afford. He relied on the hospitality of the natives to sustain him in his travels. Along the way, he met some of the country's leading lights, including Jefferson, Aaron Burr, and Alexander Hamilton. The latter two would have a bit of a falling out but that came after Davis left America. Davis also visited Philadelphia during the terrible yellow fever epidemic. According to Clark, Old South, “Davis’s account is distinguished from those of other Englishmen in being pleasant and good humored, although slavery and the mistreatment of the Negro by even the best elements repelled him.” Item 22. Priced at $750.

Heaston notes that “complete copies of this work are of almost legendary rarity.” The title is Muerte Politica de la Repubica Mexicana, o Cuadro Historico-Criticide los Sucesos Acaecidos en la Republica, 1828-29 (Political Death of the Mexican Republic, or Historical-Critical Table of the Events that Occurred in the Republic, 1828-29). It came a short time after Mexico achieved independence, and both the United States and Great Britain were seeking control of their territory. This is an attack on the scheming of the United States, and on Joel Poinsett in particular. Poinsett was U.S. Minister to Mexico, later Secretary of War in the Van Buren administration. The United States is accused of bad faith, deception, lying, false pretenses, and seeking more territory in the West. It cites various history events as proof of America's intention. What it couldn't yet cite, as it did not come until the 1840s, is that America did eventually go to war with Mexico on pretenses that served those aims herein cited, emerging with California and the American Southwest as a result. Item 8. $2,500.

Why would anyone want to attack Helena, Montana, with a piece of biting satire? Well, the year was 1894 and a referendum was being held as to whether Helena should be the capital of Montana. This obviously was produced by someone who did not think so. It describes the city as filled with pretense. The title is Helena's Social Supremacy. Montana's Center of Fashion, Refinement, Gentility, Etiquette, Kettle Drums, High Fives, Progressive Euchre and Mixed Drinks. It goes on to note “Helena is the Social as well as the commercial, financial, agricultural, metallurgical, meteorological, geographical, astronomical, geological, theological, apostalical, political, intellectual, literary, educational, musical, theatrical, legal, medical, metaphysical, artistic, hygenic and esoteric center of Montana.” The back cover shows Helena as an octopus consuming the other cities in Montana. Eberstadt attributed the piece to Marcus Daly, who spent half a million dollars attempting to name Anaconda as the capital. If so, it did not succeed as Helena was selected the state capital, as it is today. Item 91. $700.

This is an unusual item. It's a profile ledger for a bounty hunter from 1887. It contains about 50 profiles of western outlaws. They came from several states, including Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Dakota (there was only one at the time), Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota. Many were wanted for murder, though there are other charges including rape and horse theft. “One-eyed” Dan Hawkins had a $500 bounty on his head for raping a nine-year-old girl. There is a $3,000 award offered for the safe return of seven-year-old Willie Dickinson who was thought to have been kidnapped in Wisconsin. There was speculation he had been taken to England. It was of prominence at the time because of the wealth of his parents. It later was discovered he had been held in Milwaukee and murdered. Item 7. $12,000.

This work comes from 1881, five years after the Indians' annihilation of Custer at Little Bighorn. It was the year Sitting Bull was finally forced to surrender. The title is Proposed Indian Policy, by James Newlin. It is a look at policy options towards America's native population at a point when they had effectively been defeated in their attempt to hold on to their homeland. Newlin was sympathetic to their situation, but concluded there were only two possibilities. He writes, “The only alternative which civilization offers to the Indians is gradual absorbtion or extermination,” after which they would “cease to be a separate and distinct race.” He also noted, “There is no middle ground between these two extremes,” though that is where we are today.” Item 37. $500.

Michael D. Heaston Rare Books & Manuscripts can be reached at 512-417-8045 or mdheaston@cox.net. Their website is located at MDHRareBooks.com