THOMAS MAYNE "CAPTAIN" REID - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 73171

MAYNE REID
The 19th century adventure novelist signs a handwritten letter written at his "Ranche" in England.
Autograph Letter signed: "Mayne Reid", 1 page, 4½x7. The Ranche, Gerrard's Cross, Buckinghamshire, no date. To "F. N. Edwards", in full: "On back you will find the writing required. Yours truly". Thomas Mayne Reid (1818-1883) was an Irish-born writer who divided his adult life between America and England. Arriving in the US in 1840, he held a succession of jobs, including actor and journalist, before volunteering for service in the Mexican War (1846-1848). While serving in the US Army, he was decorated for valor and rose to the rank of lieutenant (although thereafter he called himself "Captain Reid.") It was in England, to which Reid moved in 1850, that he wrote most of his novels, beginning with The Rifle Rangers. These books, mostly set in the American West and other untamed regions and aimed at boy readers, became quite popular. The youthful Theodore Roosevelt was an avid reader. From 1853 to 1866, Reid and his young wife lived in Gerrard's Cross, calling their residence The Ranche. In 1866, Reid designed and supervised construction of a more elaborate estate, also called The Ranche, modeled on a Mexican hacienda. Overspending on the project bankrupted Reid, who never lived in his new creation. Reid also wrote plays and poems, but his adventure novels had greater success. Lightly soiled. Moisture stain along lower edge. Horizontal folds. Mounting adhesive on verso shows through faintly at center. Overall, fine condition.