Sam Houston and the Eclipse Mare

Eclipse was a famous English thoroughbred racehorse.  After his racing career he was a sought after stud, siring 344 winners. He was named Eclipse because he was foaled during the solar eclipse of April 1, 1764.

This document is an interesting Texas connection. It is a receipt for the sale of a mare said to be in the Eclipse line. Signed with Sam Houston’s bold “I Am Houston” signature. A great display piece.

As a collector I dealt with book dealers of all types. Several of them have been instrumental to my development as a book person, sharing their knowledge and expertise. J. Frank Dobie, who always denied he was a book collector (since he acquired his books to conduct research for his writing, rather than as objects, as it were) captured this idea more eloquently than I can in his essay “The First Bookseller to Enrich My Life.” (about Elijah Leroy Shettles)

Al Lowman, another great Bookman, played on this Dobie essay when writing about Frank’s cousin Dudley in his piece “Remembering Dudley Dobie: The first bookseller to enrich my life and empty my pockets.”  That title alone made me smile. What a satisfying feeling to have empty pockets as a result of getting a bunch of treasured books!

The late, great Ray Walton was the first bookseller with whom I developed a serious relationship.  We met at a book show in Houston when I bought a New Mexico book and took his card. (Remember the huge book shows in Houston, when you needed six hours to see all their booths? )

He had a Dobie pamphlet in his booth that I did not buy, and of course had non-buyers remorse after the show.  So I got really brave and called Ray to arrange to come and see him when I was in Austin. He had spread out for me not only the one Dobie item I was looking for, but a wealth of treasures I had only dreamed of ever seeing.  The start of a beautiful friendship.