The Rainbow Trail – Zane Grey, Grosset & Dunlap c.1920

The Rainbow Trail by Zane Grey (1915, Grosset & Dunlap) — the sequel to Grey’s landmark Riders of the Purple Sage, widely considered the novel that defined the Western genre. This Grosset & Dunlap reprint dates to approximately 1920, based on the publisher’s advertisements in the rear of the book.

QUICK FACTS

• Author: Zane Grey (1872–1939)
• Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap, New York (by arrangement with Harper & Brothers)
• Year: c.1920 printing (original copyright 1915)
• Format: Hardcover in green cloth, no dust jacket
• Pages: ~372 | ISBN: None (pre-ISBN era)
• Condition: Very Good — full report below

THE STORY

Twelve years after Jane Withersteen, the gunfighter Lassiter, and the young Fay Larkin sealed themselves inside the hidden Surprise Valley, Fay has grown into a young woman. When she is taken from the valley for a forced marriage, John Shefford — a disillusioned cowboy seeking redemption for a past failure — sets out across the desert to find her. The novel follows Shefford through the canyons and mesas of the American Southwest as he searches for the girl and confronts the Mormon establishment that controls the region. Originally published under the title The Desert Crucible in Grey’s manuscript, the book was re-edited and retitled The Rainbow Trail before its 1915 release.

THIS EDITION

Grosset & Dunlap published this reprint “by arrangement with Harper & Brothers,” who held the original copyright. G&D was the leading American reprint house of the early twentieth century, bringing popular titles to a wider audience at lower prices. This copy dates to approximately 1920, judged by the other G&D titles advertised in the back matter. The green cloth binding with gilt-stamped spine and decorative cover illustration is consistent with G&D’s mid-range production of that era.

COVER ART & ILLUSTRATIONS

The front cover features a dark green silhouette illustration of two figures on horseback traversing a mountainous landscape — a quintessential Western motif rendered in the Arts and Crafts style common to early twentieth-century book design. The spine carries a small floral illustration between the title and author name, with the G&D imprint at the foot. Inside, the title page is bordered by a thin black rule and faces a striking color plate: a dramatic landscape in warm oranges and reds with an ethereal figure emerging in pale blues and whites, evoking the desert Southwest settings of the novel. The title page lists Grey as “Author of Riders of the Purple Sage, The Lone Star Rangers, Etc.”

WHY IT MATTERS

• Zane Grey is credited by scholars with shaping the formula of the popular Western genre. Riders of the Purple Sage (1912) has been called “the most popular western novel of all time.”
• The Rainbow Trail continues the saga of Jane Withersteen and Lassiter, two of Grey’s most enduring characters, making it essential for collectors of the series.
• Grosset & Dunlap reprints of Grey’s major titles are collectible in their own right, particularly copies with intact cover art and clean spines.

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What edition is this? A Grosset & Dunlap reprint from approximately 1920, published by arrangement with Harper & Brothers. This is not the original 1915 Harper & Brothers first edition.

What condition is it in? Very Good. Clean green cloth binding with crisp titling, tight text block, minor age toning on pages. Full condition report below.

Is it signed? No. The front endpaper bears a previous owner inscription reading “O. Alden.”

FOR COLLECTORS

G&D reprints of Grey’s Western titles are increasingly sought after by collectors of early twentieth-century American fiction. This copy retains its original green cloth with both cover and spine illustrations intact — key factors in determining value. The Grosset & Dunlap editions are distinguished from the Harper & Brothers originals by the “by arrangement with Harper & Brothers” statement on the title page and the absence of a First Edition printing statement.

Condition Report

Overall Grade: Very Good (VG)

Cover & Spine: Original green cloth binding is clean and sturdy with crisp, legible titling. The front board illustration remains clear, showing only very minor shelf-wear at edges.

Dust Jacket: Not present.

Text Block & Pages: Very clean text block; pages are off-white/cream with minimal age-toning. Original owner name penciled in the front endpaper and a numeric code stamped on the back, otherwise no marks or writing.

Binding: Tight; boards are square and show no sign of hinge fatigue.

See accompanying images for full condition details. Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

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