Description:

Elizabeth B. Custer's "Boots and Saddles" Inscribed to Suffragist

A signed and inscribed presentation copy of Boots and Saddles, or Life in Dakota with General Custer by Elizabeth B. Custer (New York: Harper & Brothers Publisher, 1913. 312p) which recounts Elizabeth's view of events while traveling with her husband and the subsequent hardships they faced. Inscribed to fellow author and women's suffragist Elizabeth Jordan, who worked as literary adviser to Harper and Brothers during the time of this edition's publication. Custer's inscription, located on front end page, reads in full: "Motto on General Custer's Spanish sword/ 'Do not draw me without cause, do not sheathe me without honor.'/ With untold good wishes for Miss Jordan from Elizabeth B. Custer, New York 1913". Featured on verso of front cover is a bookplate from Jordan's personal library. Book exhibits expected wear, including bumped corners, some fading to spine, and general page toning. Else, very good with fantastic inscription.

Elizabeth Bacon Custer (1842-1933) was the wife of brevet major general George Armstrong Custer who, in the years following his death, sought to rehabilitate his image through the publication of several books and speaking tours. The events at the Battle of Little Bighorn, also referred to as Custer's Last Stand, were ultimately viewed by contemporaries as a militaristic blunder resulting in his death, as well as the annihilation of 5 out of 12 companies of the 7th Cavalry. Ever devoted to her husband of twelve years, the widowed Elizabeth could not stand the idea of his reputation tarnished, and thus went on a campaign to maintain his martyred legacy, notably with the publication of three books: Boots and Saddles (1885), Tenting on the Plains (1887), and Following the Guidon (1890), all of which were aimed at glorifying her husband's memory. Indeed, she would spend the rest of her life as a widow, never remarrying in the fifty-seven years after his death. Today, General Custer remains a controversial figure, both in his actions at Little Bighorn and the many violations and injustices he committed against Native Americans.

Elizabeth Garver Jordan (1867-1947) was an American journalist, author, editor, and suffragist, now remembered primarily for having edited the first two novels of Sinclair Lewis, and for her relationship with Henry James, especially for recruiting him to participate in the round-robin novel The Whole Family (1908). Throughout her extensive career, she would also serve as editor of Harper's Bazaar from 1900 to 1913, and remained with Harper and Brothers after it was sold to William Randolph Hurst until 1918. Notably in 1917, she organized another collaborative novel relating to the suffragist movement entitled The Sturdy Oak, the proceeds from which were donated to the cause.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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