This book is a panoramic celebration of colorful characters who created the image of the West for Americans and for the world. It also celebrates the exciting and often flamboyant accoutrements and costumes which were part and parcel of the stars' public appearance, and honors such characters as William Mathewson, recognized even by Cody himself as the "original Buffalo Bill." It is an unmatched chronicle drawn upon decades of research and collecting, augmented with images by master photographers.