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 bound in 3, as issued. xvi, 258, viii, 174; [6], 270, 78; [2], 62, 33, 35, 85, [2] pp. Illustrated with: 2 large folding maps (1 of them an unlisted hand-colored geologic 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 illustrations in text. (4to) 29x22 cm. (11½x8¾"), modern quarter leather and marbled boards, spines gilt-lettered, slipcase. First Edition, House Issue. Report on government explorations in the Southwest, noteworthy for the striking illustrations as well as the text, and with two important maps. These are "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" (50x87 cm); and "Map Illustrating the General Geological features of the Country West of the Mississippi River. Compiled from the Surveys of W.H. Emory by Professor James Hall assisted by J.P. Lesley, Esq." (50.5x58 cm). This latter map is not in the list of illustrations, and is most often lacking - its presence is very desirable. 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...." 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). Provenance: Heaston, 5/89 References: Howes E146; Wagner-Camp 291; Wheat Transmississippi 916 & 922; Goetzman, Army Explorations in the American West; Martin & Martin, Maps of Texas and the Southwest, Plate 44 for map ( Rep ) - House of Representatives Ex. Doc. No. 135, 34th Congress, 1st Session. Lot Amendments Condition: One plate with engraved outline sketch with corner bent, tender, a few color lithographs with light foxing, geologic map with short stub tear, very good or better condition internally, in fine modern bindings. Item number: 265778