WISTER, Owen (1860-1938). The Virginian. A Horseman of the Plains. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1902. 8vo. Frontispiece and 7 plates by Arthur I. Keller. (Some dampstaining to title-page and preliminaries near top edge and gutter). Original tan cloth, front board and spine stamped in red, black, and gilt (spine a bit worn, staining to front cover, front joint cracked at half-title, rear joint starting). Provenance: Amos Tuck French (1863-1941), book labels and inscription. French was a prominent New York socialite and banker; Wister related material pasted to front flyleaves. FIRST EDITION, SIGNED BY WISTER on the half-title. The Virginian is the first true fictional western that paved the way for Zane Grey and other western novelists. “Although a novel, this book probably created more impressions of what a cowboy was like – even among cowboys – than any other work, fact or fiction.” (Reese, Six Score 116).