History of the Expedition under the Command of Captains Lewis and Clark to the Sources of the Missouri, thence across the Rocky Mountains and down the River Columbia to the Pacific Ocean, performed in the years 1804-5-6 by Order of the Government of ...

Title: History of the Expedition under the Command of Captains Lewis and Clark to the Sources of the Missouri, thence across the Rocky Mountains and down the River Columbia to the Pacific Ocean, performed in the years 1804-5-6 by Order of the Government of the United States Author: Lewis, Meriwether & William Clark Place: Philadelphia Publisher: Bradford & Inskeep Date: 1814 Description: 2 volumes. xxviii, 470; ix, 522 pp. With 5 (of 6) engraved maps; engraved portrait of Lewis inserted from another early work. 21.1x12.5 cm (8¼x5", period tree calf, spines ruled in gilt, red morocco lettering pieces, speckled edges. First Edition. First edition of the official account of the most famous and most important expedition of exploration in U.S. history, a monumental undertaking executed with unbelievable skill and bravery forever embedded in the American consciousness. Derived from the journals of Lewis and Clark and other members of the expedition, the work is a rich mine of new information about a previously unexplored region. Originally expected to be published shortly after the return of the expedition in 1806, the work was delayed by a number of circumstances, including Lewis's death in 1809, and Clark's various government appointments. Although Paul Allen is listed as the editor, the major work was actually done by Nicholas Biddle, a gifted young Philadelphia lawyer who was unable to complete the final portion of the work due to his election as a state legislator, and he enlisted Paul Allen for the task. Allen's major contribution, according to Cutright, was to induce Thomas Jefferson to write a biographical sketch of Captain Lewis in tribute to his former secretary and hero of the expedition who took his own life (some say he was murdered) four years before the publication of this history. From the intended print run of 2,000 copies, 583 were defective or missing, and so of this edition no more than 1,417 copies existed. Of these, some were still defective, lacking the spectacular folding map (the frontispiece of Volume I), which was not inserted in all copies of the original. This copy does not have the large folding map which was apparently not bound in. Maps that are present comprise: (1) Fortification. (2) The Falls and Portage. (3) Great Falls of the Columbia River. (4) The Great Shoot or Rapid. (5) Mouth of Columbia River. The portrait of Lewis is from The Analectic Magazine and Naval Chronicle; by S. Memim and engraved by Strickland. This is the Edward Everett Ayer copy, presented to the Newberry Library, with bookplate to that effect and his book label on the rear pastedowns; ms. note on the bookplates indicated the set was deaccessioned as duplicate. Old newspaper clipping (ca 1850) on distance across western United States and significance of a railroad across the country pasted on flyleaf of Vol. I. Bookplates of Geo S Balcom on front pastedowns. Provenance: Sotheby's, 11/1/93 References: Graff 2477; Hill 1017; Howes L317; Sabin 40828; Streeter Sale 1777; Wagner-Camp 13:1. Lot Amendments Condition: Some scuffing to joints and wear to extremities, old repair to spine head of Vol. I; some browning and light foxing to contents but less than is usually the case, very good or better, nicer than usually seen. Item number: 267500