THE BOUNTY HUNTERS. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1954. Octavo, pp. [1-6] 1-180 [181-182] [183-186: blank], publisher's pictorial gray cloth stamped in dark blue. First edition. A presentation copy inscribed to a fellow crime writer on the front free endpaper: "For ___ / foremost gatherer / of my work. / Elmore Leonard." Leonard's first novel, following the publication of a number of short stories, including his 1953 classic story "Three-ten to Yuma." Leonard says the "invitation" for this book came from J. Frank Dobie's APACHE GOLD AND YAQUI SILVER. In the bibliography to that book, Dobie mentions the professional scalp bounty hunters and suggests that someone write a story about them. "Of course," writes Leonard, "I'm quite sure he meant a factual account, not fiction; but the opportunity seemed too good to miss." A fine copy in very good price-clipped dust jacket with wear at spine ends and corner tips. From the library of a well-known mystery writer with his library stamp on the front paste-down. A exceptional copy. (#176770).
Price: $3,500.00
No statement of printing.