Beschreibung:

Title: Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey Author: Emory, William H. Place: Washington Publisher: Cornelius Wendell, printer Date: 1857-1859 Description: 2 volumes (of 2 parts each) bound in 3, as issued. xvi, 258, viii, 174; [6], 270, 78; [2], 62, 33, 35, 85, [2] pp. Illustrated with: large folding map, 9 steel-engraved plates of views (1 of which, "View of Monument Mountain" is not listed); 12 color lithographs of Indians or views; 33 plates with 66 engraved outline sketches; 1 folding profile; 1 folding chart; 1 map; 21 steel-engraved paleontological plates; 61 lithographed botanical plates; 75 steel-engraved specimen plates & 1 view of cacti; 27 steel-engraved plates of animals along the boundary, many showing details of their bone structure; 25 hand-colored lithograph plates of birds; 41 steel-engraved plates of reptiles; 41 steel-engraved plates of fish; plus numerous wood-engraved illus. in text. 10½x8, modern half leather and marbled boards, spines gilt-lettered. First Edition, Second Issue. Report on government explorations in the Southwest, noteworthy for the striking illustrations as well as the text, and with an important map. Wagner-Camp notes that "Emory's writing style and system of organization lacks the quality of John C. Fremont, but the scientific content of the Report is indeed comparable to Fremont's earlier Narrative, according to William H. Goetzmann. Although Emory had been a key member of the Commission ever since its beginning, his narrative of his own adventures is sketchy and inadequate, and reflects in it some of his animosity toward John Bartlett Emory's own contribution to the Report is cartographic; as the Commission's chief astronomer, he had made most of the several thousand observations which were incorporated into the maps...." The folding map present in this volume is "Map of the United States and Their Territories Between the Mississippi and the Pacific Ocean and Part of Mexico Compiled from Surveys Made Under the Order of W.H. Emory." Volume 1 contains the maps and description of the country plus the reports by James Hall on the Palaeontology and Geology and by T.A. Conrad in the fossils. Volume 2 contains the parts on botany (general botany by John Torrey and cacti by George Engelmann) and on zoology (Mammals, Birds and Reptiles by S.F. Baird and Fishes by C. Girard). Howes E146; Wagner-Camp 291; Wheat Transmississippi 916 - House of Representatives Ex. Doc. No. 135, 34th Congress, 1st Session. Lot Amendments Condition: Gilt very faded on spines; lacking geological map; foxmarks on about 5 plates, scattered few spots, pale offsetting from text on Indian plates; overall, a very nice crisp copy and about fine. Item number: 157534