(Wild West Shows) Buffalo Bill's Wild West: America's National Entertainment: Led by the Famed Scout and Guide, Buffalo Bill (Hon. W. F. Cody), Capt. A. H. Bogardus, Champion Wing Shot of the World, Major Frank North, the Pilot of the Prairie, "Oklahoma" Payne, the Progressive Pioneer, "Buck" Taylor, King of the Cow-Boys, "Con" Groner, the Cow-Boy Sheriff of the Platte: A Host of Western Celebrities; A Camp of Cheyenne, Arappahoe, Sioux, and Pawnee Indians; A Group of Mexican Vaqueros; Round-up of Western Cow-Boys; Company of Prairie Scouts; A Herd of Wild Buffalos; A Corral of Indian Ponies; A Band of Mountain Elk; A Drove of Texas Steers; Pack-Train of Mexican Burros; Mountain Lions, Coyottes, Deer, Antelope, Mountain Sheep, etc.: Artistically Blending, Life-Like, Vivid, and Thrilling Pictures of Western Life. Hartford, Conn.: The Calhoun Printing Company, [1884]. FIRST EDITION. 8vo - 9-3/4" x 6-13/16". Original color pictorial paper wrappers with depictions of Buffalo Bill in action to both front and back wrappers and titles printed in black to front wrapper with no signs of handling or wear for what is an amazingly well preserved copy of the book. [32] pp.; illustrations, portraits. This is considered to be the earliest program for Buffalo Bill's Wild West which launched in the spring of 1883. From the "Salutatory" or forward of the book by General Manager John M. Burke dated North Platte, Neb., March 1, 1884: "Hon. William F. Cody ('Buffalo Bill') ... has organized a large combination that, in its several aspects, will illustrate life as it is witnessed on the plains: ... the performance, while in no wise partaking of the nature of a 'circus,' will be at once new, startling, and instructive." The book contains biographies of all the main participants, as well as general topics of interest, e.g., The Hunt of the Bison; A Historical Coach of the Deadwood Line; and Cody's Famous Ride, 355 Miles in 58 Hours, Through a Hostile Country; black and white illustrations throughout, both full page and within text; internally the book is fine. The condition of the book is FINE. An unusually fresh copy of this SCARCE FIRST PROGRAM of Buffalo Bill's Wild West; RARE in such pristine condition. # 001238