McMurtry, Larry. STREETS OF LAREDO

New York: Simon & Schuster, [1993]. First edition. 8vo. The sequel to the author's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "Lonesome Dove." This copy is in two dust jackets, the inner one being the trade jacket that shows the book's publication price of $25. The outer jacket is unpriced and was commissioned by McMurtry himself. In a published pamphlet that was issued on the occasion of a speech delivered to members of the ABAA, McMurtry detailed what was a hitherto unknown mystery: "I have, of course, continued my little game with the book trade. Since I'm going to be collected, I want to make it interesting, and, also, I want to make it expensive. The true first issue dust-wrapper of 'Streets of Laredo' was done by my goddaughter, Sara Ossana, in an edition of forty copies. That rarity has been sighted but not yet catalogued." The front panel depicts an orange and black illustration of a Texas sunset. The inner flap bears a printed statement by the precocious artist: "I love you, Larry / love, / your goddaughter." The rear flap is comprised of a photograph of a four-year-old McMurtry astride a pony. Copies of the dual-jacketed book were sent only to the author's intimates, as per a handwritten note by McMurtry laid into this copy, which is inscribed to fellow author Chris Koch: "One of the ends to one of the stories, Larry." Christopher Koch was best known for his novel "The Year of Living Dangerously," which was adapted by Peter Weir for the 1982 movie starring Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver. The second and only other copy we have had or encountered, the first of which was McMurtry's "sighted" copy. The book and both jackets are in fine condition. Hardcover.