My Confession, Samuel E. Chamberlain
First edition, first printing of Chamberlain's harrowing autobiographical account of his travels during the 1840s, especially his service in the Mexican–American War and his adventures with the Glanton gang, which he wrote between 1855 and 1861. The account also informed the narrative and characters of Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian; the novel's protagonist, known only as "the kid", is said to be loosely based on Chamberlain. Originally published in a highly truncated format in Life Magazine, this book is the first published appearance of his full manuscript, with 55 illustrations and decorations including 15 pages in full color.
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1956. Publisher's original blue cloth boards over red cloth spine, lettered in gilt; illustrated endpapers, illustrations throughout, pp. x, 302. A near fine copy in a very good, unclipped dust jacket. Binding remains sound, minimal wear to boards, internally clean and fine. Jacket shows some general wear and rubbing, a few tape reinforcements to verso, protected in archival mylar.