Villains and Vigilantes; The Story of James King of William and Pioneer Justice in California
New York: Wilson-Erickson, Inc, 1936. Near Fine in Very Good dust-jacket First Edition. [9.25x6.25in]; 261 pp., frontispiece illustration of 1851 Vigilance Committee hanging of Jenkins, seven plate illustrations from contemporary articles of notables and events of the 1851 and 1856 Vigilance Committees; Forest green pebbled cloth covers with red ink lettering on front and spine, all edges trimmed; Light brown dust jacket with black lettering in cover and spine, black illustration of landscape with birds and large tree with hangman’s rope, advertisement for another book on back; Minimal shelf wear to book corners and top and bottom of spine; Shelf wear to dust jacket on surface, edges and corners, chips to front corners, top and bottom of spine, chips at top front and back joints, slightly darken spine, prior owner ink stamp on front end paper. [Adams Six-Guns 448]. Item #13181
Stanton A. Coblentz (1896-1982) was an author best known as a poet and science fiction writer. He wrote for the Amazing Stories and Science Fiction Wonder Stories in the 1920’s and 30’s. This book is not about science fiction or poetry, but the real life actions of citizens taking justice into their own hands. It is about the short lived 1851 and longer 1856 Committees of Vigilance formed by the leading citizens of San Francisco to take over the protection and judicial systems from a failed City, State and National government officials.
Price: $70.00