Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. Performed by the Order of the Government of the United States in the Years 1804, 1805, and 1806

Lewis, Meriwether and William Clark

Edité par Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, London, 1815

A propos de cet article

First Octavo English edition. Large folding map, five single page maps. xxvi,411; xii,434; xii,394pp. 3 vols. 8vo. The second British edition, after the Philadelphia and London editions of 1814. The narrative of the Lewis and Clark expedition is the most famous in the trans-Mississippi West, describing their twenty-eight-month trek from St. Louis to the Pacific and back again, with a wealth of geographical, ethnological, and natural historical observations en route. Because of the death of Lewis, the publication of the account was delayed until 1814, when the Philadelphia edition appeared. The 1814 British edition quickly sold out, necessitating this three-volume 1815 edition to satisfy public demand. It has a large folding map on fine paper on a somewhat larger scale than in the original American edition. The importance of exploring the vast unexplored territory west of the Missouri River was clear to Thomas Jefferson as early as 1783, when he first proposed the project to Clark's father, George Rogers Clark. "The purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France in December 1803 greatly increased the importance of the expedition, which finally began its long journey to the headwaters of the Missouri in May of the following year. That year they wintered in the Mandan villages in the Dakotas and in the Spring pushed on west across the Rocky Mountains and then down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean. Returning by the same route nearly two-and-a-half years after they had set out they arrived back in St Louis in September 1806 to the amazed delight of the nation which had given them up for lost. Though unsuccessful in their attempt to find a transcontinental water route, they had demonstrated the feasibility of overland travel to the western coast, a feasibility which was greatly enhanced a few years later by the discovery of the South Pass across the Rockies" (PMM). Howes L317, "b"; PMM 272 (Philadelphia ed.); Wagner-Camp 13:3; Wheat Transmississippi 317; Graff 2481; Literature of Lewis & Clark 5A.3; Sabin 40830 Contemporary half tan calf and marbled paper covered boards, spine gilt with morocco lettering pieces, minor wear. Minor foxing to the single page maps. Bookplate Large folding map, five single page maps. xxvi,411; xii,434; xii,394pp. 3 vols. 8vo.

N° de réf. du vendeur 376086

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. Performed by the Order of the Government of the United States in the Years 1804, 1805, and 1806
• Éditeur: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, London
• Date de parution: 1815
• Édition: First Octavo English edition.
• Catalogues du vendeur:
  • Americana
  • History, Travel & Geography