Beschreibung:

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 6 copper-engraved maps, including the folding "A Map of Lewis and Clark’s Track, Across the Western Portion of North America from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean,” 70x30.2 cm. 8¼x5, rebound in modern morocco-backed cloth, morocco spine labels in imitation of the originals, folding map sectioned and mounted on linen backing and housed in a matching morocco backed cloth folder. All housed in a custom felt-lined cloth covered slipcase. Binding by the Storm Bindery. 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, with the rare and highly important folding map. Derived from the journals of Lewis and Clark and other members of the expedition. 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. 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. Wheat calls the map, copied by Samuel Lewis from the drawing by William Clark "a cartographic achievement,...the transformation and growth of knowledge ...must have astonished him. For here the Missouri is both cut to size and given life and dignity.... Across the mountains one sees the Columbia, its waters now taking on the character of a great living river..." The map accompanying the present copy is the original, but has been removed, sectioned and linen backed with several repaired tears and wrinkles. Graff 2477; Hill 1017; Howes L317; Sabin 40828; Streeter Sale 1777; Wagner-Camp 13:1. This copy with the 1818 ownership signatures of George R. Ford and with the modern bookplates of author and bibliographer, George H. Tweney. Provenance: John M. Steinbrugge. Lot Amendments Condition: Foxing and browning throughout; else a very good copy in a fine modern binding. Item number: 190861