"Yellowstone Kelly" The Memoirs of Luther S. Kelly

New Haven: Yale University Press, 1926. First Edition. Near fine in dark blue cloth covered boards with gilt text and decorations on the spine. A small quarto of 9 3/16 by 6 1/8 inches with a Christmas 1928 gift inscription on the first free end page. In a very good+, unclipped dust jacket with 1/4 inch deep chipping across the upper edge of the spine area which is also tanned with several small stains. 268 pages including an index, text and illustrated with photographs and reproductions of early art works one of which is by Charles Russel. With a forward dated March 1, 1921 by Nelson A. Miles, Lieutenant-General, U.S.A. who employed Yellostone Kelly (truncated) as his chief scout. With his ability to speak the Sioux language Kelly was an invaluable aid to the Army in its campaigns against the plains Indians. Following his initial discharge from the Army in 1868 Kelly spent many years as a hunter and trapper in the Yellowstone region learning the trails and geography in Wyoming and Montana. Very uncommon in jacket. (Inventory #: TB32732)