Out Where the West Begins, drawings by Harold Bell Wright

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Out Where the West Begins

Wayne and June Way sent me a list of editions of "Out Where the West Begins" that is more complete than the one in my book. I have included their additional editions in blue letters below.

In my collection I have a special commemorative edition of “Out Where the West Begins.” On the front this copy is signed by Estelle A. Philleo, to Bunola Tucker. Inside the front cover is this story:

The True Story
of
“Out Where the West Begins”

     I left Arthur Chapman just a few minutes ago and during the course or our conversation I said to him, “Art, there are so many different stories about when, where, and how you wrote “Out Where the West Begins,” I wish you would tell me the truth about it.
     He replied, saying that about seven years ago he was working on the Denver Republican and that he had a poem a day to write for the top of his column, headed, “Center Shots.”
     While he did not remember the exact date, he did recall that it was about ten minutes of six and he wanted to catch the six o’clock car for home.
     While he was trying to figure out something to write, he passed the managing editor’s desk and saw an A.P. dispatch which stated that the Governors of the Western States, while holding their annual meeting, had fallen into a discussion about where the West begins, some contending for the Allegheny Mountains, others the Mississippi, and some the Rockies.
     It afforded him the suggestion for the choicest bit of Western verse that has ever been written.
     He sat down at the typewriter and in a few minutes “Out Where the West Begins” was hanging on the copy hook. He left the office on the run and caught the six o’clock car."   [There are several more paragraphs regarding the immense popularity of this poem, followed by this closing statement:]
     "Please accept with the compliments of the Denver Tourist and Publicity Bureau the enclosed author’s copy, which is the exact size and facsimile of the original.”

Harry N. Burhans
Denver, Colorado
December 18, 1917

60a. Chicago, Sanford, 1917. Sketch from “When A Man’s A Man” on back cover.

60c. Chicago, Forster, 1920. Ad for “Trails” on back. “My Little Home on the Hill” inside front cover.

60d. Chicago, Forster, 1920. “Forster Edition,” Indian logo on front, facing left. Ad for “E’en As the Flower,” on back. “When I’m With You,” inside front cover.

60dd. Chicago, Forster, 1920. “Forster Edition,” Indian logo on front, facing right. Ad for “E’en As the Flower,” on back. “When I’m With You,” inside front cover.

60dd. Chicago, Forster, 1920. “Forster Edition,” Indian logo on front, facing right. Ad for “E’en As the Flower,” on back. “When I’m With You,” and “The Shadows Fall,” inside front cover.

60e. Chicago, Forster, 1920. Ad for “Pale Moon,” on back. “Wonderful Waltzo,” inside front cover.

60f. Chicago, Forster, 1920. Ad for “Pale Moon,” on back. “My Little Home on the Hill,” inside front cover.

60f. Chicago, Forster, 1920. Indian Logo on front facing right. Ad for “Our Yesterdays,” on back. “When I’m With You,” and “Over the Hills,” inside front cover.

60ff. Chicago, Forster, 1920. Indian Logo on front facing right. Ad for “Our Yesterdays,” on back. “Secret of Mine,” and “Lieberstrum,” inside front cover.

60g. Chicago, Forster, 1920. Ad for “Sunset Trail of Gold,” on back. “E’en As the Flower,” inside front cover.

60h. Chicago, Forster, 1920. Ad for “Sacrament” on back, “Pale Moon,” inside front cover.

60i. Chicago, Forster, 1920. Ad for “Sacrament” on back, “If You Knew,” inside front cover.

60j. Chicago, Forster, 1920. Ad for “Baby Curls,” on back, “She’ll be Mine,” and Love’s Ship,” inside front cover.

60k. Chicago, Forster, 1920. Ad for “Lonesome—That’s All” and “Our Yesterdays,” on back, “Mist in the Canyon,” and Lieberstraum,” inside front cover.

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