The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜

$65.00
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜
The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, Illustrated by J. Allen St. John (First Edition), 1915. 🤠🌵📜

1. Introduction 📜🔍

The Boss of the Lazy Y by Charles Alden Seltzer, with illustrations by the notable artist J. Allen St. John.

Published in 1915, this volume is not merely a novel but a seminal work of early 20th-century Western fiction. While this specific copy is in a well-loved state, its extensive history as a library book and the inclusion of its original illustrations make it a unique item for a collector who values the lived story of a book.

2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

The Boss of the Lazy Y is a classic Western that follows the story of Calumet Marston, a daredevil son who returns to his boyhood home to find his father has died and a woman, Betty, is now in charge. The book is a vivid story of ranch life, deceit, and personal redemption. It is a powerful example of the "ranch story" subgenre of Western fiction, blending a coming-of-age narrative with themes of justice and the enduring spirit of the frontier. Seltzer's storytelling captures the essence of the Wild West and its code of honor.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

Charles Alden Seltzer (1875-1942) was a prolific American novelist and journalist known for his more than 40 Western novels and hundreds of short stories. Seltzer's own experiences as a ranch hand in New Mexico lent his writing an authentic realism. J. Allen St. John (1874-1951), the book's illustrator, was a noted artist specializing in fantasy and adventure art. He is best known for his work on Edgar Rice Burroughs's Tarzan books and is considered a foundational figure in American pulp illustration. The collaboration between Seltzer and St. John makes this book a key example of the art of early 20th-century popular fiction.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1915, this book is a product of the "golden age" of the Western genre. During this period, the American West, though largely settled, remained a powerful romantic ideal for a public nostalgic for the frontier. Seltzer's work, along with that of authors like Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour, helped to establish the Western as a distinct and enduring form of American popular culture, exploring themes of individualism and the conflict between lawlessness and civilization.

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is a perfect fit for a curator of Western fiction, a scholar of early 20th-century popular literature, or a bibliophile specializing in early pulp illustration. Its status as a first edition of a highly-regarded work, featuring illustrations by a noted artist, makes it a non-replicable item for a collection focused on the evolution of American literary and art history.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This edition of The Boss of the Lazy Y is a rare and highly sought-after first edition. Its value is derived from its status as a classic novel and the scarcity of first editions in good condition. However, its history as an ex-library copyand its significant physical flaws heavily impact its monetary value. It is best suited for a collector who appreciates the book for its content and its unique story, rather than its pristine appearance.

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This book shows extensive signs of wear and age, as documented by the photos. The covers and pages have what appears to be heavy water staining, particularly on the inside front and back covers and the pages themselves. The binding is fragile, with a broken spine, and the book has heavy corner and edge wear. This book is not in collector's condition and is sold as a "reader's copy".

8. Translation of Inscriptions/Ephemera (Conditional) ✍️📜🔤

The photos reveal a unique and documented history. The inside of the book has a stamp that reads, "Merced County Free Library," with the date "Dec 29, 1928," and the number "140569." This marking provides a fascinating glimpse into the book's past and its long life as a public resource.

9. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

  • The book’s publisher, Grosset & Dunlap, was famous for publishing popular, inexpensive editions of novels, but its first editions are highly collectible.

  • J. Allen St. John, the book's illustrator, was a highly influential artist who also created the iconic illustrations for Edgar Rice Burroughs's Tarzan series, establishing him as a foundational figure in fantasy art.

  • The Western fiction genre was one of the most popular genres in American literature from the 1930s through the 1960s.

  • Seltzer's son, Louis B. Seltzer, who would later become a legendary editor of the Cleveland Press, recalled that his mother would bring home wrapping paper from the butcher for his father to write on when he was a struggling writer.

10. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

  • Title: The Boss of the Lazy Y

  • Author: Charles Alden Seltzer

  • Illustrator: J. Allen St. John

  • Year: 1915

  • Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap

  • Place of Origin: New York, New York, USA

  • Format: Hardcover

  • Edition: First Edition, Ex-Library

  • Rarity: Rare (in first edition form)

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