TOM RYAN’S PAINTINGS OF THE MODERN WEST, INSCRIBED
(RYAN, Tom) KRAKEL, Dean. Tom Ryan: A Painter in Four Sixes Country. Flagstaff: Northland Press, (1971). Oblong octavo, original brown cloth gilt.
First trade edition of this biography of Ryan and his visual documentation of workings at the famous 6666 Ranch in West Texas, illustrated with 15 full-page color plates and seven finished black-and-white drawings, inscribed on the half title, “For Sam Polk— With my sincere best wishes toward your worthy projects. Tom Ryan, October 1972.”
“Ryan is painting the contemporary West with understanding. He has almost completely veered away from the typical historical episodes and scenes of the Old West, accomplished by such names as Russell, Remington, Leigh, Seltzer, and Schreyvogel. Tom feels strongly about the West of today. As a result of this feeling, he is living and painting in the heart of one of America’s greatest ranching countries— West Texas.” Most of his paintings are set at the famous 6666 Ranch, founded by Captain Samuel “Burk” Burnett in 1868, long noted for its legendary quarter horses and superior Angus cattle. Issued simultaneously with a special slipcased “Ranch” edition of only 500 copies.
A near-fine inscribed copy, with only a small scrape to original dust jacket and corresponding mark to front cover.