London: Sampson Low, Son, & Co., 1856. 498pp, 16 advts, 6 plates. Original blind stamped boards, expertly recased with spine laid down. Pages slightly browned, else a tight, very good copy. A classic of frontier life. In 1830 Mrs. Kinzie and her husband were among the earliest settlers in Chicago, arriving just in time to be caught up in the Black Hawk War - her daughter-in-law was taken captive but later rescued - and her narrative contains an account of the Chicago massacre. Her story was written immediately after the fact, although not published until years later. There's a bit of a puzzle about the title page: all of the bibliographical citations give a New York publisher, but the present copy lists a London publisher with the New York house in second place. Additionally, there is a slight variation in the title itself - the New York edition begins "Wau-Ben," not present here. Perhaps we have a pirated issue, or an edition bound from the original sheets with a London title page. Regardless, the date is the same as the New York first edition. Howes K171, Buck 230. Item #24419

Price: $300.00