Western Trails (Limited & Signed)

Self-published, Huntington Beach, CA, 1931. Limited Edition. Hardcover (Original Cloth). Very Good Condition. Book Signed by Author. A limited edition, "personally inscribed and numbered by the author." Labeled on the limitation page as # 149. Speer traveled around the western United States as a mining engineer who worked for The Texas Company. In his preface he says the book's collection of stories from his travels "represents 25,000 miles of travel and six years' work." He writes, "The stories will take you over many Western Trails and you will find their names mentioned as you go along," including the Old Spanish, the Santa Fe and National Old Trails (the last two of which became parts of Route 66). The book is illustrated with photographs Speer took. Based upon the cars, it appears most of them are from the 1920s. Laid into the book is a printed letter from Speer addressing the recipient as "At Least One Reader of This Book." In the letter he requests the reader to send him a letter with comments on the book in the hopes that "one of the largest mail order houses in the country" will pick up the book to sell. The top edge of the letter was exposed, so it is browned with some 1/4" tears and a little loss, not affecting any of the text. Size: 9" -11" - Small Quarto (Sm. 4to). 377 pages. Item Type: Book. The text block is tight and unmarked. The pages are lightly tanned from age. A leather bookmark souvenir from Sequoia National Park that features a painted bust of a Native American at the top was left laid in, resulting in a heavy brown stain at the gutter edges of pages 60-61. Bound in blue and light blue patterned cloth with the title in a duled gilt on the front cover and spine. Corners are sharp with some wear at the tips, but not through to the boards. Self wear at the head and foot of the spine with a small (1/4") hold at the lower front edge of the spine. Plain end papers in excellent shape. The page edges are browned. Quantity Available: 1. Category: Travel & Places; West (U.S.) -- Description and travel; United States; 1930s; Genealogy & Local History. Signed by Author. Main Picture: Speer (1931), Western Trails (Limited Ed.) - Front cover and spine with inset of the signed and numbered limitation notice. Picture 2: Speer (1931), Western Trails (Limited Ed.) - Rear cover and page edges. Picture 3: Speer (1931), Western Trails (Limited Ed.) - Limitation page with the author's picture, signed and numbered. Picture 4: Speer (1931), Western Trails (Limited Ed.) - Letter asking for help from the reader that is laid into the book. Picture 5: Speer (1931), Western Trails (Limited Ed.) - Preface from the author, dated Feb. 1, 1931. Picture 6: Speer (1931), Western Trails (Limited Ed.) - First page of the text. Picture 7: Speer (1931), Western Trails (Limited Ed.) - Sample pages with photo of a car. Picture 8: Speer (1931), Western Trails (Limited Ed.) - Sample pages with a photo of the Old Block House at Fort Ross in California. Picture 9: Speer (1931), Western Trails (Limited Ed.) - Sample pages with pictures from the chapter on Utah, including a sign for Dick Wick Hall's "Laughing Gas Station". Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 1287. .