The King of Beaver Island

Westernlore Press, Los Angeles, 1955 First edition in book form (original appearance was in Harper's Monthly Magazine of March, 1882). Limited edition, one of 350, of which 300 were for sale. Scarce. Red cloth-covered boards, blind stamped front board (covered wagon), gilt spine lettering, 8 1/4 x 5 5/8 inches, 43 pp., bibliography, frontispiece engraving of James Jesse Strang (by Grimley, Harper's Monthly Magazine, March 1882), illustrated with an engraving of The Voree Plates (also by Grimley; "A facsimile of both sides of the three brazen plates alleged to have been miraculously discovered by James J. Strang on September 14, 1845."), high-quality printing and paper. Near fine (slight edge wear, else fine). Great West and Indian Series III. Foreword, Notes and Bibliography by Paul Bailey. From the Foreword: "The mid-nineteenth century was productive of many strange movements and personalities, but it is doubtful if those years of America's ferment ever brought forth any character more weirdly dramatic than James Jesse Strang. With startling disregard for democratic law and process, he was crowned king over his Beaver Island domain, and just as autocratically he enforced the laws and edicts which went with his monarchy. His followers accepted him as king by divine right; prophet, seer, and mouthpiece-of-God. James Jesse Strang had joined the Mormon Church five months before Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet, was murdered at Carthage jail, Illinois. With the tragic death of Joseph Smith, Strang attempted to move himself in as Smith's successor. In this he failed to reckon with Brigham Young, who summarily excommuicated him, and branded him fraud and imposter. But this did not stop Strang. While Brigham Young led the church out of Illinois persecution to Utah, Strang led every other Mormon who would listen to him, to his own 'promised land' at Voree, Wisconsin. There he set himself up as the new prophet, dug up a fresh set of ancient metal plates, translated them with the miraculous help of heavenly beings into The Book of the Law of the Lord, and proceeded to issue 'revelations' on every conceivable subject. In 1882 Charles K. Backus wrote this exciting study of James Jesse Strang under the title of an American King. In it he traces the rise of Strang at Voree, his establishment of the Beaver Island 'kingdom,' the unbelievable oddities of this chapter of American history, and the final end of Strang." (K068). 1st Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/No Jacket.