The King Ranch.

Kingsville, Texas, Printed for the King Ranch [by Carl Herzog in El Paso, Texas], 1957. Two volumes, small 4to. Original full coarse linen printed with the running 'W' brand, being a facsimile of the saddle blankets woven and used on the King Ranch, patterned endpapers, rough fore-edges, the other edges sprinkled, in the original linen slipcase with gilt-stamped leather spine label; pp. [x], 467, [2]; [x], [469]-838, numerous plates, vignettes and maps (some in colour, printed with 'special inks') after drawings by Tom Lea, plus facsimiles of documents; slip-case a little marked, volume one with strengthened inner hinges; a very attractive set of a sumptuously produced book and an important association copy (see below). First edition, limited to 3000 copies, the biggest book on the biggest ranch not only of Texas, but the United States. 'This is the best account of the most famous ranch in the world. William Reese called it `perhaps the most exhaustive ranch history ever written.' Frank Goodwyn said that `in addition to being an encyclopedic compendium of information on the ranch, the book is also a work of art....' ...The research for the book was partly done by Holland McCombs and the sixty-six pages of footnotes were prepared by Frances L. Fugate' (Jenkins 121A). This is the sought-after Saddle Blanket Edition of Tom Lea's detailed account of the most famous of Texas ranches, designed, printed and bound in Texas. Carl Hertzog (1902-1984) was one of the leading printers, typographers, and book designers of the United States in the middle of the 20th century. 'Effective printing, he held, should help the reader focus on the content; it should never call attention to itself. He carefully selected the size and shape of the book, paper color and texture, style of type, and binding to suit the subject matter. Once the type was set he would rework it to avoid bad spacing and breaks at the end of lines and pages. Finally he would check the press run for variations in inking, all for the sake of enhancing the appearance of the printed page. He campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of and appreciation for printing' (Texas State Historical Association, Handbook of Texas, online). The Texas artist and writer Thomas Calloway Lea III was a friend of the printer. 'His two-volume history The King Ranch (1957) was considered by some scholars to be the greatest ranching history ever written' (ibid). - This is the first issue with page 507 in volume two beginning with the word 'Alice'. - Not a single copy of this edition was for sale; the book was produced to be given to friends, guests and business partners. Provenance: Initial blank of volume one with 8-line cordial and calligraphic presentation inscription by the grandson of the founder and his wife (who commissioned Tom Lea to write, illustrate and design the book) to Harold Caccia. 'Robert J. Kleberg, Jr., and Helen C. Kleberg’s early lives were radically different, but their lifelong devotion and enduring love had a lasting impact on both King Ranch and the world beyond … Bob’s family had a long, rich history in South Texas. His grandfather was Captain Richard King, founder of King Ranch, and his grandmother was Henrietta Chamberlain, a Presbyterian minister’s daughter ... Bob and Helen’s legacy of philanthropy grew from a shared passion for cultural, civic, and environmental issues, which continues today through the establishment of their family foundation in 1950, the Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation. The Foundation strives to continue their legacy by supporting and improving quality of life in South Texas communities, investing in scientific research and innovation, the arts and humanities, and wildlife and habitat stewardship' (klebergfoundation.org). The recipient of this set, Harold Anthony Caccia, later Baron Caccia, was a British top civil servant and diplomat who after the Suez crisis of 1956 had a lot to do in order to remedy the damaged Anglo-American relations and was instrumental in restoring and nurturing the 'special relationship' between London and Washington.