A Cornerstone of Early Western Exploration

"An Account of Expeditions to the sources of the Mississippi, and through the Western Parts of Louisiana, to the sources of the Arkansaw, Kans, La Platte, and Pierre Jaun, Rivers…", Pike, Zebulon

This report covers the first United States government expedition to the Southwest, depicting Pike's expeditions from 1805-1807. Pike's book is one of the most important of all American travel narratives, and stands alongside those of Lewis and Clark as a cornerstone of early western exploration. Included are accounts of Pike's travels to find the headwaters of the Arkansas and Red Rivers, his explorations along the Mississippi River, and his Spanish escort to Santa Fe, New Mexico and Chihuahua, Mexico. 8vo, 287 pp., 3 Appendices with 206 pp., portrait frontispiece, 3 folding tables. Pages 15-16 are missing, and replaced in photocopies. First Edition, published in Philadelphia; text volume only. Hardbound in full calf with raised bands on spine.

Accompanied by photocopies of two of the six maps and charts that were contained within a separate atlas in this edition. These maps are considered the first to depict geographic knowledge of the Southwest based on actual explorations, and provide excellent references for the text. Included as photocopies are:
1. The First Part of Captn Pike's Chart of the Internal Part of Louisiana
2. A Chart of the Internal Part of Louisiana, Including all the hitherto unexplored Countries...

References: Howes #P373; Wheat (TMW) #297, #298; Wagner-Camp #9:1.

Condition: B+

Rebacked with minimal shelf wear and scuffing to original covers. Repair to bottom corner of frontispiece, and a large tear through title page (formerly closed with tape, has now been backed with Japanese tissue.