SAM BASS & GANG.

Austin:  State House Press, 1999.  xii,412pp.  Index.  Bibliography.  Notes.  Numerous photographs.  Frontis. portrait of Bass taken in Dallas. Maps. First trade edition with the publication announcement laid-in.  Very fine in an equally nice dust jacket. Sam  Bass began his criminal career by robbing stages in the Black Hills of the Dakota Territory.  Soon he and his gang advanced to holding up trains in Nebraska and Texas.  In 1878 the pursuit of Bass moved to Texas in a state wide man hunt.  It ended in his death in a gun battle on the streets of Round Rock, Texas.  Over a period of years, the author examined newspapers, public records of several states, the national archives, private collections, the records of the Texas Rangers, and virtually all the known primary and secondary sources.  The result of this meticulous research is a book that, with Wayne Gard’s earlier effort, will become the standard reference works on this legendary outlaw.  This volume, by a very through and careful historian, is highly recommended.