Beschreibung:

Title: An Account of Expeditions to the Sources of the Mississippi, and Through the Western parts of Louisiana, to the Sources of the Arkansaw, Kans, La Platte, and Pierre Juan Rivers; Performed by Order of the Government of the United States During the Years 1805, 1806, and 1807. And a Tour Through the Interior Parts of New Spain, When Conducted Through These Provinces, by Order of The Captain-General in the Year 1807. Author: Pike, Z[ebulon] M[ontgomery] Place: Philadelphia Publisher: C. & A. Conrad, et al Date: 1810 Description: [viii], 105, [11], [107]-277, [5], 65, [1], 53, [1], 87 pp. Portrait frontispiece; 3 folding tables; 6 maps, five of which are folding. (8vo) 9x5¾, late 19th century three-quarter green calf and mottled boards, morocco title labels. First Edition. The report of the first United States government expedition to the Southwest, and one of the most important of all American travel narratives. Includes accounts of Pike's travels to explore the headwaters of the Arkansas and Red rivers, his earlier journey to explore the sources of the Mississippi River, and his visit to the Spanish settlements in New Mexico. Pike's narrative stands with those of Lewis and Clark as the most important of early books on western exploration and as a cornerstone of Western Americana. The maps were the first to exhibit a geographic knowledge of the Southwest based on first- hand exploration and are considered "milestones in the mapping of the American West" (Wheat). "The description of Texas is excellent" (Streeter). An untrimmed copy. With the bookplate of author Edwin Sawyer Walker and with 3 pieces of correspondence from Albany, New York bookseller John W. Cadby regarding Walker's purchase of this book by barter in 1897. Howes P373; Wagner-Camp 9:1; Streeter Sale 3125; Wheat Transmississippi 297, 298, 299; Graff 3290; Field 1217; Streeter Texas 1047C; Sabin 62936. Lot Amendments Condition: Spine a touch faded, light wear to extremities; some foxing and offsetting, two leaves with early repairs to margins (pp. 109/110 and 49/50 in Appendix to Part II), newspaper clipping pasted in the blank space of 2 pages (pp [3] and 110); else very good. Item number: 189431