[John Neely Bryan] [Dallas] Story, Joseph; Sharswood, George - ed.

The Public and General Statutes Passed by the Congress of the United States of America. From 1789 to 1827 Inclusive... Vol. 2, 1801-1815 [with] The Public and General Statutes Passed by the Congress of the United States of America. From 1828 to 1836 Inclusive... Vol. 4, 1828-1836

Boston; Philadelphia: Wells and Lilly; P. H. Nicklin and T. Johnson, Law Booksellers, 1827, 1837. Two quarto volumes, [4], 827-1532pp and [7], 2104-2632pp. Tan buckram, red and black morocco labels on spine, ruled and lettered in gilt. Damp staining to lower page edges of the first third or so of each, more pronounced in the earlier volume. Pages tanned and somewhat brittle in volume 4, foxing throughout in volume 2, unused card pockets in front of both. Several ownership markings, including signatures from John Neely Bryan in each.

Historic set of two statute books from the library of the founder of Dallas, John Neely Bryan (1810-1877).  Bryan left his home state of Tennessee at an early age with law degree in hand, first to Arkansas and in 1839-1841, surveying and settling in the area that would later become Dallas.  

The natural features of the landscape, the Trinity River being shallow and crossable at the site,  perhaps drew Bryan to the area, but were also a source for disaster shortly after his settling.  Stephen R. Butler in his biography, John Neely Bryan: The Father of Dallas (pg. 46):
"In 1842... A Trinity River flood damaged the so-called 'Gilbert-Bryan cabin.'  John Neely Bryan, Jr. described this event: 'Shortly after this first cabin was completed  my father went back to Colbert's Ferry for a supply of corn... he found that a rise of the river had occurred during his absence... damaging his books and destroying many of his papers... [he] had brought with him numerous valuable books and papers pertaining to his profession.'"  

These volumes were later rebound and owned by Maurice Eugene Locke who established a practice in the city in 1891 and built one of the great law libraries of the West.  The stamp of a "John B. Seymour" is also present in each, perhaps owning the books between Bryan and Locke.  We find no record of John Neely Bryan's signature at auction.  This wonderful piece of Dallas history also presents a rare case where water damage adds to rather than detracts from the appeal.    

. Item #5083

Price: $2,500.00