The Rough Riders – Theodore Roosevelt – 1899 | First Edition, Illustrated

In 1898, as the Spanish-American War was escalating, Theodore Roosevelt assembled an improbable regiment of Ivy Leaguers, cowboys, Native Americans, African Americans, and Western Territory land speculators. This group of men, which became known as the Rough Riders, trained for four weeks in the Texas desert, and then set sail for Cuba. Over the course of the summer, Roosevelt’s Rough Riders fought valiantly, and sometimes recklessly, in the Cuban foothills, incurring casualties at a far greater rate than the Spanish.

The Rough Riders was published to instant acclaim in 1899, originally published in six installments by Scribner. This edition includes 44 fine illustrations!

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Rough Riders
• Author(s): Theodore Roosevelt
• Illustrator(s):
• Contributor(s):
• Publisher: New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons
• Edition: First edition, 1899
• Format: (8vo), single volume
• Binding: Hardcover
• Size:  8.75 in x 5.75 in (22 cm x 15 cm)
• Collation: xi, [1], 298 pp
• Illustrations: 44 illustrations
• Contents Include:
  • Organization of the regiment
  • Departure from Texas
  • Combat in Cuba
  • Reflections on leadership and service
• Provenance: signed, “Niel from sister Emily. Christmas 1900”.
• Reference(s): references

Condition:

Very Good. The binding remains strong, with moderate shelf wear to the covers. Pages show mild toning consistent with age but remain clean, with illustrations sharp and complete.

Why Collect This?

• First edition of Roosevelt’s military memoir
• Illustrated with 44 images
• Published by Scribner at the height of Roosevelt’s early political career
• Key work of Spanish-American War literature

Item Number: # 29293