A very good and nicer than normal copy of the book that has been called "the most popular western novel of all time", and the one Zane Grey himself called "my favorite book of all I've written". Tipped into the front of the book is the iconic Zane Grey Signed portrait photograph of the author in a suit and tie and measuring 5 3/4" x 3 1/2". This the Harper & Brothers First Edition notable for having “MCMXII” on the title page and three lines of copyright information, with the last line stating, "published January 1912". The copyright page includes the Harper advertising box listing four titles, each published prior to the 1912 Riders of the Purple Sage. Illustrated by Douglas Duer with four full-page illustrations including the tissue guarded frontispiece. Condition: 8vo. 335 pages - Publishers' Light brown cloth stamped in gold and purple, with the color paper onlay on the front cover. a bit of edgewear with corners lightly bumped and rubbed. Some spotting to the cloth on the lower front, the spine has been reinforced at some point, some staining visible along the outer edge. A previous owners name with an October 1912 date on the front flyleaf, toning and soiling to the endpapers and foxing to the frontis and title pages, creasing to the corners of a few interior pages. The signed photograph ca. 1920's shows some creasing at the corners and a small stain along the bottom. Overall, a very good and sought after 1st edition of Zane Grey's first bestselling novel with the scarce signed photo.