Anson, George (1697-1762). 1769. WITH 3 LARGE FOLDING MAPS.
A Voyage Round the World in the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV. 14th. ed. London: Woodfall et al, 1769. 8"h x 5 1/2"w. 536 pages. Compiled from Lord George Anson's papers and materials by Richard Walter, Chaplain of His Majesty's Ship the Centurion, in the expedition. Contains three folding maps, all engraved by Richard William Seale (1732-1785):

1. "A Chart, Shewing the Track of the Centurion round the World" (showing California as an island and Australia partly defined).

2. "A Chart of the Pacific ocean from the Equinoctial to the Latitude of 39 1/2 d. No."

3. "A Chart of the Southern part of South America ..."

All three maps with short tears at binding stubs. Volume and maps are in good condition with some verso reinforcements on maps; front cover earlier reinforced now cracking. Spine broken one place. Bookplate.

Anson, George (1697-1762). 1780. WITH 3 LARGE FOLDING MAPS.
A Voyage Round the World in the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV by George Anson, Esq ... Compiled from His Papers and Materials by Richard Walter, Chaplain of His Majesty's Ship the Centurion, in that Expedition. 15th. ed. London: W. Strahan et al, 1780. 536 pages with 3 large folding maps, as called for, engraved by Richard William Seale (1732-1785):

1. "A Chart, Shewing the Track of the Centurion round the World". 16"w x 9"h. This world map shows California as an island and Australia only half defined.

2. "A Chart of the Southern Part of South America ..." 19"w x 20"h. Separated at one fold intersection.

3. "A Chart of the Pacific Ocean from the Equinoctial to the Latitude of 39 1/3 d. No". 34"w x 11"h.

Leather.

Berquin-Duvallon. 1804. WITH MAP OF LOUISIANA.
Schilderung von Louisiana [and] M. Rochon’s Reisen nach Moroko und Indien…. Weimar, Verlag des F. G. pr. Landes-Industrie-Comptoirs, 1804. 8”h x 5”w. Only German edition. Deaccessioned. Annotations on front end paper and front free end paper. Good condition. Introduction by Theophil Friedrich Ehrmann (1762-1811). Contains two major parts.

The first part, pertaining to Louisiana, is a 344 page translation of the French edition of Berquin-Duvallon’s Vue de la Colonie Espagnole du Mississipi : ou des Provinces de Louisiane et Floride Occidentale, en l'Année 1802, par un Observateur Résident sur les Lieux. (Paris : A l'Imprimerie Expéditive, rue St.-Benoît, no. 21, 1803). Howes B389.

Includes a folding map, “Louisiana”, 9”h x 7”w, in German and extending from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, including much of today’s Texas.

An exhibit at the American Philosophical Society, “Louisiana 1683-1803”, features four books, one of them the French version cited above. Part of the description of the book follows:

“When Louisiana passed from Spanish to French to Jeffersonian hands in 1803, there was a renewed tri-national spark of interest in the colony. Languishing under French and Spanish hands alike, the colony had never achieved the profitability predicted for it, and the little-known author Berquin-Duvallon painted a less than attractive picture of the place. Providing a general survey of climate, soil, the city of New Orleans, slavery, and creole culture, and with an important description of sugar culture and production, Berquin Duvallon recoiled in horror at the effects of the Revolution in Saint Domingue (Haiti) and the treatment of refugees in U.S. and Louisiana."

The American Philosophical Society had this to say about him: “Berquin Duvallon is also notably drawn deeply into the racialized thought characteristic of the 19th century. Convinced that the "independent spirit" of American Indians made it impossible to enslave them, he wrote "It is not the same with Negroes, and for them slavery is, as it is in the countries in which they originate as elsewhere, a natural state from which they leave only with violence, and into which, on the contrary, they enter with ease, like a flock of sheep entering the stable."”

The second part is a 146 page translation of a portion of the French edition of Father Alexis-Marie de Rochon’s Voyages a Madagascar, a Maroc et aux Indies orientales… As can be seen from the German title, this German translation does not include the voyage to Madagascar. Rochon was a famous French astronomer and navigator whose fame included his Voyages.

The following is an excerpt of Peter Abrahams’ presentation to the Antique Telescope Society, October 1999.

“Alexis Marie Rochon (1741-1817) was an experimental, practical physicist; and also an instrumentalist and tinkerer. He held the title of Abbe until the Revolution, and wrote a series of memoirs on optical instruments, which were given to the Academie in 1766. In 1771, he became a member of this French Academy of Sciences. King Louis XV had assembled a collection of instruments at the Chateau of La Muette at Passy, and Rochon was placed in charge of the optical instruments in 1775. He was also astronomer-optician to the French Navy, and director of the observatory at Brest. His interest in navigation resulted in his most famous work, the first book by a European on a voyage to Madagascar, with much anthropological content, and he returned from Madagascar with quartz crystals that he made into objectives.”

Bryant, Edwin (1805-1869). Western Region. 1849.
What I Saw in California. Being the Journal of a Tour, by the Emigrant Route and South Pass of the Rocky Mountains, Across the Continent of North America, the Great Desert Basin, and Through California, in the Years 1846, 1847. New York: Appleton & Co. 1849. Cloth. Fifth edition. Octavo; original blind-stamped publisher's cloth; gilt lettered spine; [2], 480pp; 2 maps. Single-page frontispiece woodcut map is foxed. Large folding lithographed map of the Western Region is not foxed. Spine sunned; binding lightly worn & rubbed; scattered internal foxing, heaviest to title page and prelims. A tight, complete and unrestored copy. Howes B903. Wagner-Camp 146:8 (this edition), and Streeter 3147 (1st edition, having no maps).

Includes one of the most famous maps of the Gold Rush, Colton’s: "Map of California, Oregon, Texas, and the Territories Adjoining with Routes &c." Image is 18”w x 20 ½”h including ornate lithographed frame. Outline color and gold fields in yellow. Fold lines with one fold beginning to perforate. Map in very good condition. Imprint:" Published by J. H. Colton, No. 86. Cedar St. New York, 1849". Under scale: "Ackermans lith. 120 Fulton St. N.Y." Bottom left: "Entered according to Act of Congress ... 1849 ...by J. H. Colton ... New York." Bottom center: "D. Appleton & Co. New York." This map does not appear in the 1858 editions of the book. Reference Wheat Gold Region 73 and Wheat Transmississippi 593.

“Nearly half of this book is devoted to a day by day account of Bryant’s overland journey from Independence to the mouth of the American river in California, May 5 to September 2, 1846. This part is one of the best accounts of that emigration of 1846. The rest of the book is an equally good account of the beginnings of the American occupation of California. Bryant marched to Los Angeles as a lieutenant in Fremont’s California Battalion, and after his return to San Francisco was appointed alcalde [magistrate] by General Kearney on February 22, 1847. There is a good account of the Donner party tragedy. Bryant returned to the States with General Kearney’s party, arriving at Fort Leavenworth on August 22, 1847.” (Streeter).

Edwin Bryant (1805-1869) was an American journalist from Kentucky. He was a cousin of the poet William Cullen Bryant. He worked on several newspapers in Kentucky, including editing one and establishing his own; the “Louisville Morning Courier”. In 1846 he was a lieutenant to wagon train-Captain William H. Russell travelling from Missouri to California. On July 2, 1846, after trading their wagons and teams for mules, Bryant, Russell, and seven other men set out by themselves to become the first emigrants to take Hastings Cutoff. The Hastings Cutoff was the most direct route for the California emigrants. It left the California Trail at Fort Bridger in Wyoming, passed through the Wasatch Mountains, across the Great Salt Lake Desert, looped around the Ruby Mountains, and rejoined the California Trail about seven miles west of modern Elko, Nevada.

Dwight, Timothy (1752-1817). NEW ENGLAND. 1821-1822.
Travels in New-England and New-York. 1st ed. 4 volumes. New Haven: Timothy Dwight, 1821-1822. 8vo (5 ½” w x 8 ¾”h).

Rebound in quarter burgundy-color leather with the original worn marbled paper covered boards. Gilt spine lettering and decoration. The contents are very good with very light uniform toning of the paper and some offsetting from the three folding bound-in maps. An errata slip is bound-in at the end of volume four. The maps appear to have been rarely opened and the text-block is clean and tight. Volumes one and two are dated 1821 and volumes three and four are dated 1822. (There is also a London edition of 1823, not included, with the three maps re-engraved.)

A very good set and probably the best description of New England in the early 19th century, covering Dwight's travels over several decades.

The three maps are:

"Map of the Southern part of New England Compiled for Pres’t. Dwights Travels, By George Gillet Esq. 1821." 13 ½’w x 11”h. In vol. 1.

"Map of the Northern part of New England Compiled for Pres’t. Dwights Travels, By George Gillet Esq. 1821. " Inset lower right: “Head Waters of Connecticut River.” 13 ½’w x 8 ¼”h. In vol. 2.

"Map of the State of New York Engraved for Pres’t. Dwights Travels. 1822." 12”w x 11 ½”h. In vol. 3.

All three maps have an unusual prime meridian – Yale College. This may be the only case where Yale was used as the prime meridian. Timothy Dwight, IV, (1752–1817) was a minister, theologian, educator, and author. He was the eighth president of Yale College, from 1795 to 1817. As author of the book in which the maps were published, Dwight had the opportunity to have Yale College selected as the location of the Prime Meridian for the maps.

HOWES D612.

Emory, William Hemsley (1811-1887). 1848. WITH THE LARGE FOLDING MAP.
Notes of a Military Reconnoissance from Fort Leavenworth, in Missouri, to San Diego in California, including part of the Arkansas, Del Norte, and Gila Rivers. House Ex. Doc. No. 41, 30th Congress, 1st Session. Washington: Wendell and Van Benthuysen, Printers, 1848. 9"h x 5 1/2"w. 614 pages. Illustrated with 43 lithographed or engraved plates (3 are single-page battle-plans). This House issue contains the reports of Abert, Cooke & Johnston not found in the Senate’s 416-page Emory report. The Abert report has an additional 24 plates. The Johnston report has numerous sketches integral to the text. With all three maps called for, including the huge folding map:

“Map of the Territory of New Mexico, made by order of Brig. Gen. S. W. Kearney . . . by Lieut’s J. W. Abert and W. G. Peck …” 25”h x 20”w. This map accompanies the Abert report. Wheat Transmississippi West, Vol. 3, Map 542, illustrated before p. 3. Short tear at stub to neatline.

“Sketch of part of the march & wagon road of Lt. Colonel Cooke, From Santa Fe to the Pacific Ocean, 1846, 7. 12”h x 22”w. This map accompanies the Cooke report. Wheat Transmississippi West, Vol. 3, Map 505.

"Military Reconnaissance of the Arkansas, Rio Del Norte and Rio Gila by W. H. Emory, Lieut. Top. Eng’rs. Assisted ... by Lieuts. J. W. Abert and W. G. Peck … Constructed under the orders of Col. J. J. Abert. Ch. Corps of Top. Eng'rs. 1847." 30”h x 64”w. Light toning of some folds. Opening at one fold intersection. An excellent copy of this rare map, usually missing from this report. Wheat Transmississippi West, Vol. 3, Map 544, stating on p. 6: “The map of Lieutenant Emory (including the map of Abert and Peck and the map of Cooke) is a document of towering significance in the cartographic history of the West.”

Wagner-Camp, The Plains & the Rockies, 148:5. Howes E145. Bookplates. Dark brown cloth. Paper label on spine. Rust spots p 547-8. Ex library. Plates very good.

Fremont, John Charles. 1846. WITH THE LARGE FOLDING MAP BY GREENHOW.
Narrative of the Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, in the Year 1842, and to Oregon and North California, in the Years 1843-44. London: Wiley and Putnam, 1846. Only English edition. “With a Map and Illustrations”. 9"h x 6"w. 324 pages. Spine title: “Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains”. Modern spine.

Four lithograph plates by Day & Haghe:
"The American Falls of Lewis Fork".
"Hill of Columnar Basalt on the Columbia River".
"Devil's Gate".
"The Pyramid Lake".

Map: "Map of the Western & Middle Portions of North America, to illustrate the History of California, Oregon and other Countries on the North West Coast of America by Robert Greenhow. Compiled from the best Authorities by Robert Greenhow." 23"h x 25 1/2"w. Removed from text, cut into 15 sections and mounted on linen. Tear in lower right mended when backed. Trimmed to neat lines. Wagner-Camp, The Plains & the Rockies, No. 115-6, citing this specific combination of book and map. See also Wheat Maps of the California Gold Region, 22; the same map but in a history by Greenhow. Wheat indicates "This is a beautifully executed map ...."

Howes F370. Steven’s, Rare Americana: A Catalogue, No. 1708 with the comment: “The work is one of great importance and is one of the best for those seeking information regarding the Far West and its native inhabitants.”

Gilliss, James Melville (1811-1865). 1855. WITH THE PANORAMA OF SANTIAGO AND 3 FOLDOUT MAPS.
The U. S. Naval Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere, during the Years 1849-'50-'51-'52. Volume 1. Chile ... Washington: A. O. P. Nicholson, printer, 1855. 12"h x 8 1/2"w. Full leather, 556 pages. All 14 illustrations present and in excellent condition including the view:

"Panoramic View from the Summit of Santa Lucia, Santiago", 9"h x 68"w., original color. Book has ownership stamps on title page and edges.

Three foldout maps:

"Sheet I Map of the Republic of Chile Compiled by the U. S. Astron’l. Expedition….” Lower right: “Engr. by S. Siebert.”

“Sheet II….” Lower right: “Engr. by S. Siebert.”

Sheet III….” Lower right: “Engr. By Selmar Siebert.”

Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler, founder of the United States Coast Survey, could find no skilled copperplate engravers in the United States who were capable of producing work to his standards. It was not until late 1841 that he was able to acquire two engravers from Hamburg, Selmar Siebert (1808 - ?) and T. A. Rolle, to serve as the seeds for his engraving group. Siebert settled in Washington, DC, where he later founded Selmar Siebert's Engraving and Printing Establishment. He was the father of American artist Edward Selmar Siebert (1856-1944). When the Coast Survey began experimenting with electrotyping in 1846, Siebert conducted these experiments. Among his important engravings are those in Reports of Explorations and Surveys to Ascertain the Most Practicable and Economic Route to the Pacific Ocean, 1855-61.

Hughes, John Taylor. 1848. WITH 4 MAPS AND PLANS.
Doniphan's Expedition; Containing an Account of the Conquest of New Mexico; General Kearney's Overland Expedition to California; Doniphan's Campaign against the Navajos... 2nd ed., issue 2. Cincinnati: J. A. & U. P. James, 1848. 8"h x 5"w. Portraits of Doniphan and Price, xii, 407 pages. 16 illus, all present. Text lightly foxed. Bound in black cloth; front cover and spine restored. “Doniphan’s and Kearney’s conquests gave the United States its claim to New Mexico and Arizona, finally acquired by the Gadsden Purchase.” Howes H769 "best ed." Wagner-Camp, The Plains & the Rockies , 134:3. Wagner-Camp: "... it is now rare and avidly sought".

Folding map: " A New Map of Mexico, California & Oregon, Published by J. A. & U. P. James, Cincinnati 1848". 13”h x 9”w. Short tear at stub professionally repaired. Wheat, TransmississippiWest, 546. See also Wheat Maps of the California Gold Region, 45, indicating: "It is too early for the gold discoveries, but shows the 'Route from Angeles to Santa Fe,' also New Helvetia, and 'Gen. Kearney's Route' on his return from California in 1847."

Single-page city plan: “Plan of Santa Fe and Its Environs”. Slight show-through of text from verso. Small spot in hills outside the city. A ten-line explanation of the plan is on the preceding page.

Single-page map: “Plan of the Battle of Brazito.”

Single-page map: “Plan of the Battle of Sacramento.” A 17-line "Explanation of Plate, Battle of Sacramento" is on the verso, as is: "List of Officers."

Hawkesworth (1715-1773). 1774. GERMAN EDITION OF COOK'S 1ST VOYAGE, VOLUMES 1 AND 2 (OF 3) WITH 54 MAPS AND PLATES.
Geschichte der See-Reisen und Entdeckungen im Süd-Meer welche auf Befehl Sr. Grosbrittannischen Majestät unternommen, und von Commodore Byron, Capitain Wallis, Capitain Carteret und Capitain Cook im Dolphin, der Swallow, und dem Endeavour nach einander ausgeführet worden sind; aus den Tagebüchern der verschiedenen Befehlshaber und den Handschriften Joseph Banks Esq. in drey Bänden verfasst von Dr. Johann Hawkesworth. Mit des Herrn Versassers Genehmhaltung aus dem Englischen übersetzt von Johann Friedrich Schiller. Berlin: A. Haude und J.C. Spener, 1774.

First German edition of John Hawkesworth’s 1773 account of Cook’s first voyage (1768-1771). Two of three quarto volumes. [8], 54, [2], 459, [1, blank]; and [2], 6, [4], 408 pp. Half title in Volume 1. Complete with fifty-four engraved plates and maps (21 called for in vol. 1 plus one extra and 22 called for in vol. 2 plus 10 extra). Five raised bands with decorative tooling, title (Cook’s Reisen) and volume numbers 1 and 2. Some wear to extremities. Dime-size brown spots on 4 pages.

These voyages include:

Commodore Byron’s “Reise um die Welt … dem Dolphin, wahrend den Jahren 1764, 1765 und 1766….” (Vol. 1, pp. 1-134).

Captain Wallis' “Reise um die Welt, in den Jahren 1766, 1767 und 1768 … dem Dolphin.” (Vol. 1, pp. 135-300).

Captain Carteret’s “Reise um die Welt, in den Jahren 1766, 1767, 1768 und 1769 … die Swallow.” (Vol. 1, pp. 301-459)

Lieutenant (Captain) Cook’s “Reise um die Welt, in den Jahren 1768, 1769, 1770 und 1771 [in the Endeavour].” (Vol. 2 and continued in Vol. 3, not present).

The official three-volume set of the voyages was edited by John Hawkesworth (1715-1773). Unfortunately, Hawkesworth composed the account of Cook’s voyage in the first person of Cook, incorporating material from both Cook’s notes and those of the ship’s naturalist Joseph Banks, as well as his own commentary, without distinguishing the sources. Thus the reader does not know whose views are being expressed.

In 1774 Hawkesworth’s edition was translated by Johann Friedrich Schiller (1737-1814), nephew of Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller, a foremost German poet and dramatist. Johann Schiller translated a number of works including William Robertson’s The History of America.

Parker, Samuel (1779-1866). 1846. WITH FOLDING MAP OF OREGON TERRITORY
Journal of an Exploring Tour beyond the Rocky Mountains … with a Map of Oregon Territory. 5th. ed. Auburn, New York: J. C. Derby & Co., 1846. 7 1/2"h x 4 1/2"w. 422 pages plus 6 p. advertising. Contents foxed. Howes P-89.

Folding map: "Map of Oregon Territory By Samuel Parker. 1838. Copy right secured. Eng’d. by M.M. Peabody, Utica, N.Y." Map is 14"h by 23"w. Tape on short tear at stub. The map extends from North Latitudes 39 degrees to the 56 degrees and from the Pacific Ocean east to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Parker had accompanied a fur-trading party from Council Bluffs to Walla Walla. This map is recognized as the earliest to show the interior of Oregon accurately. Shows locations of Indian tribes. Wheat, TransmississippiWest, Map 446, and illustrated after page 166. Wagner-Camp, The Plains & the Rockies, 70:5.

Weld, Isaac (1774-1856). 1807. WITH 16 PLATES AND MAPS.
Travels through the States of North America, and the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the Years 1795, 1796, and 1797. 4th. ed. London: John Stockdale, 1807. 8 ½”h x 5 ½”w. Two volumes (427, 376 pages). Owner’s signature (1814). Full leather. Pastedowns and free-endpapers stained at edges. Hinges starting. Corners bumped. Based on 38 letters Weld sent to friends in Great Britain.

Sixteen plates and maps, including five folding maps:

1. "Part of the United States of North America.” Imprint: “Published 15th Nov’r. 1798, by J. Stockdale, Piccadilly." 16”w x 18 ½”h. Two small spots.

2. "Plan of the City of Washington.” Imprint: “Published by J. Stockdale Piccadilly 16th. Sep’r. 1798." 7”h x 8 ½”w. Light foxing. Phillips, Maps and Views of Washington and District of Columbia, PW 37.

3. "A New Map of Upper & Lower Canada 1798.” Imprint: “Published Nov’r. 10th. 1798 by J. Stockdale Piccadilly." 7”h x 9”w.

4. "A Plan of the City of Quebec." 7”h x 9 ½”w. Light offsetting.

5. "An Eye Sketch of the Falls of Niagara.” Imprint: “London Published by J. Stockdale Piccadilly 16th Nov’r. 1798." 6 ½”h x 8 ½”w.

Howes W235.