North American Auction Company
Live Auction

Fine Montana Collector Sale - April 2023

Sat, Apr 22, 2023 11:00AM EDT
Lot 372

"Corral Dust" By Bob Fletcher 1934 Shorty Shope

Estimate: $300 - $600

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$50,000 $2,500
Featured in this lot is the book of Western Verse, 1934 1st edition "Corral Dust", by Bob Fletcher 1936, drawings by Shorty Shope. Robert H. Fletcher, was a Western poet and writer perhaps best know as the uncredited writer of the lyrics to Cole Porter 's song, “Don't Fence Me In." His writings included a novel on the early days in the Montana cattle business, “From Free Grass to Fences.” Formerly of Butte, Montana, Fletcher moved to Helena, Montana to work for the Montana Highway Department to promote tourism in Montana. In about 1935 he was instrumental in the creation of "Ports of Entry" at major highways entering Montana, where visitors were provided with information about Montana's history and points of interest. He became a student of Montana history, and with that background he wrote the text for a series of historical markers displayed throughout Montana in the mid-1930s. Several compilations of those markers have been published. In the 1950s he was commissioned by the Montana Cattlemen's Association to write a history of the cattle industry in Montana titled "Free Grass to Fences." He was an early "cowboy poet". The book features a dated signature from the author from 1935. The book is in good condition, embossed leather cover has gilt lettering, minimal scuffing on covers and spine, pencil markings on inside of both covers, foxing noted throughout. This book measures 9 1/8" L x 6 1/4" W x 3/8" D.