[TEXAS]

[SMITH, RICHARD PENN?]. Col. Crockett's Exploits and Adventures in Texas, Wherein Is Contained a Full Account of His Journey from Tennessee to the Red River and Natchitoches, and Thence across Texas to San Antonio; Including His Many Hair-Breadth Escapes... Philadelphia: T.K. and P.G. Collins, 1836. Publisher's salmon cloth, printed spine label. 7 x 4 1/4 inches (18 x 10.5 cm); [iv] pp. ads, viii, [13]-216 pp.; frontispiece. Head of spine torn, covers soiled, internally foxed and toned—1837 inscription in pencil on endpaper.

The title page further states "The narrative brought down from the death of Col. Crockett to the Battle of San Jacinto, by an eye-witness." Of this rare work Raines Bibliography of Texas says: "The genuineness of this narrative has been doubted. But the discovery of the MS. [of Crockett's autobiography] in the baggage of the killed Mexican general, Castrillon, at the close of the battle of San Jacinto was made known soon afterwards, and published in June, 1836, only a few weeks subsequent to the battle. There is no lack of internal evidence in its behalf." Howes S654 begs to differ, calling this an "Ingenious pseudo-autobiography, purportedly printed from the manuscript found with the baggage of a Mexican general slain at San Jacinto." The Preface of the work indicates that the manuscript passed from Charles T. Beale to one Alexander J. Dumas of New Orleans. The last copy we note at auction was in 1955 (Rare Book Hub).