First two of the X Bar X books: On the Ranch and In Thunder Canyon in Dust Jackets

Early copies of the first two books in the X Bar X Boys series, one of which appears to be a first printing. (1) The X Bar X Boys on the Ranch (1926; 1927 printing) - The 1927 date is based on the listing of Tom Swift books on the back of the dust jacket. The last book listed is "Circling the Globe," which was printed in 1927. In addition, the first five of the books in the series is in the dust jacket catalog, the last two of which were also printed in 1927. (2) The X Bar X Boys in Thunder Canyon (1926; First Printing) - This appears to be a first printing since the listing of Tom Swift books goes to "His Airline Express," which was published in 1926. The X Bar X Boys series is not listed on the dust jacket catalog. Size: Small Octavo (7 1/2-8"). 216; 216. 2 volumes of the 22-volume set. Item Type: Book. Hardcover in the original gray cloth binding and cover title in brown outlined in dark blue of the original printings of the first 11 books (Mattson & Davis, 1997, p. 460). The binding of "On the Ranch" has wear at the tips, a slight bump at the center of the top of the front cover and a little fraying at the head of the spine. The binding of "In Thunder Canyon" has a little wear at the tips but has suffered being dropped, which has torn the cloth at the front hinge of the spine and broken the board (visible in a crack in the inside front cover affecting the top one-quarter of the front cover. It has also been in a damp environment at some point, with some paper from the dust jacket adhering along the rear hinge of the spine. Both dust jackets are present but in Good+ to Very Good- condition. The spines have both darked from exposure and there is biopredation along the folds of the front and rear flaps. (1) "On the Ranch" is in somewhat better shape but has a one-inch tear at the head of the fold for the front flap, a small tear at the center of the bottom edge of the front panel, a tear with a fold at the bottom edge next to the spine and chipping and the head and foot of the spine. (2) "In Thunder Canyon" has a large rectangular chip at the head of the spine, affecting the text of the title, and a one-and-a-quarter inch tear at the top of the front panel next to the spine. There is a large chip at the bottom edge of the front panel and a large tear with folding at the top edge of the rear panel. In addition there is a red stain from water at the bottom edge of the front panel and the lower half of the hinge on the rear panel. Both dust jackets are now protected in Brodart archival sleeves to avoid any further damage. Both books have a stamp from the original owner, "Richard Metz 1933," on the free front end paper. "On the Ranch" has an inscription, "To Richard on his Twelfth Birthday," dated Oct. 18, 1927. Illustrator: W. S. Rogers (Dust jacket cover art and frontispieces). Quantity Available: 1. Category: Teens & Young Adult; United States; 1920s; Fiction. Main Picture: Ferris (pseud.) (1926), Set of first two X Bar X Boys books - Front panel of "On the Ranch" and spines. Picture 2: Ferris (pseud.) (1926), Set of first two X Bar X Boys books - Front panel and front cover of "On the Ranch". Picture 3: Ferris (pseud.) (1926), Set of first two X Bar X Boys books - Rear panel and rear cover of "On the Ranch". Picture 4: Ferris (pseud.) (1926), Set of first two X Bar X Boys books - Front panel and front cover of "In Thunder Canyon". Picture 5: Ferris (pseud.) (1926), Set of first two X Bar X Boys books - Rear panel and rear cover of "In Thunder Canyon". Picture 6: Ferris (pseud.) (1926), Set of first two X Bar X Boys books - Frontispiece and title page of "On the Ranch". Picture 7: Ferris (pseud.) (1926), Set of first two X Bar X Boys books - Front and back of the dust jacket of "On the Ranch". Picture 8: Ferris (pseud.) (1926), Set of first two X Bar X Boys books - Frontispiece and title page of "In Thunder Canyon". Picture 9: Ferris (pseud.) (1926), Set of first two X Bar X Boys books - Front and back of the dust jacket of "I.…