Report of an Expedition Down the Zuni and Colorado Rivers; Accompanied By Maps, Views and Illustrations (Inscribed By Col. J.J. Abert)
Washington, DC: Robert Armstrong, Public Printer, 1853. First Edition. Octavo. Item #028265
First issue. Inscribed by Col. J.J. Abert on the front free endpaper. [1-3]4-198pp. (191-193]194-198 table of contents and index. Plates follow text. Views: 23 (no plate #14) some tinted, one folding. Mammals: 6 plates; Birds: 5 plates (no. #2); Reptiles: 21 plates (with 2 plates each numbered 10); Fish: 3 plates (no #12); and Botanicals: 21 plates, large folding map in rear pocket with several small early tape mends. In 1838, Abert was appointed the command of the Corps of Topographical Engineers in which he organized the mapping of the American West. Abert recruited the best soldier-scientists he could find. These included John C. Frémont and William H. Emory. Carl Wheat writes of the map: "a monumental achievement ...though marred with misspellings [it is] exceedingly well done." (Transmississippi West 3, pp. 22-24). Bookplate of Francis Randall Hagner (1873-1940), collector of Americana, he was an attending physician to President William H. Taft. His interest in Americana was far-reaching, including the Indian Wars, specifically the career of General George A. Custer (1839-1876); the Western and Southwestern states. The inscription by Col. Aberts is to Rev. Smith Payne who was in Washington, D.C. attending a conference at the Willard Hotel (November 11, 853). While Robert Armstrong was the public printer until the end of the year, there was pressure because of his intransigence with many of the allied businesses. A very good copy bound in black cloth decoratively stamped in blind, professionally rebacked retaining the original endpapers with old spine laid down, corners repaired, some scattered foxing. [Howes S528. Wheat 763. Wagner/Camp 230:2 Graff 3809].
Price: $4,500.00