The Border Outlaws – James W. Buel – 1882 | 48 Engravings, Train Robbers!

James W. Buel’s The Border Outlaws collects two related outlaw narratives published together in 1882 by Forshee & McMakin of Cincinnati. It recounts events tied to Jesse and Frank James, the Younger brothers, and their associates. Among the episodes are the Battle of Lone Jack, the death of Henry Younger, and the robbery of the Missouri Pacific Railroad at Otterville. Other scenes include attacks on Osceola and bank hold-ups in Liberty, Gallatin, Independence, Kansas City, and more. Two volumes: Border Outlaws and Border Bandits, and includes 48 engravings of people and incidents mentioned. The book appears in several major references, including Howes, Graff, Rader, and Adams.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Border Outlaws. An Authentic and Thrilling History of the Most Noted Bandits of Ancient or Modern Times, the Younger Brothers, Jesse and Frank James, and Their Comrades in Crime
• Author(s): James W. Buel
• Publisher: Cincinnati, Forshee & McMakin
• Edition: 1882.
• Format: Duodecimo (12mo), two parts in one volume
• Binding: Brown cloth
• Size:  7.5 in x 5.25 in (19 cm x 13.5 cm)
• Collation: 476 pp
  • Two parts with continuous pagination
• Illustrations: 48 engravings depicting persons and events, some in color
• Contents Include:
  • Battle of Lone Jack
  • Assassination of Henry Younger
  • Battle of Walnut Creek
  • Pillage of Osceola
  • Bank Robberies in Gallatin, Liberty, Russellville, Independence, Kansas City, Lexington, and Savannah
  • Missouri Pacific Railroad Robbery at Otterville, Missouri
• Provenance: Handwritten inscription of Nate Worstell
• Reference(s): Howes B 933; Graff 466; Rader 531

Condition:

Good. Binding intact with moderate edge and corner wear. Spine is shaken but no pages are detached. Pages toned but intact. All engravings present.

Why Collect This?

• Cited in multiple frontier-era bibliographies
• Includes 48 engravings
• Of interest to collectors focused on 19th-century American criminal history

Item Number: #28836