"View of the Valley of the Mississippi, or the Emigrant's and Traveller's Guide to the West. Containing a General Description of That Entire Country...", Tanner, Henry Schenck

This guidebook was intended for travelers and emigrants heading west, and is filled with useful information on geography, natural resources, climate, disease, religion, Native American tribes, and information about each state east of the Mississippi. The volume also includes 15 maps: the eastern United States, 9 state maps (most of which depict two adjacent states), and a number of city plans, such as New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Nashville, and Lexington. The map of the eastern United States is titled United States and was engraved by J. Knight. It is the only hand-colored map in the volume and outlines each of the states, including the territory of Arkansas, which would become a state two years later. The territory of Michigan is also shown, extending west to the Mississippi River. A separate map of Michigan is also included, with cities and roads extending from Detroit to Prairie du Chien and north to Fort Howard. The state maps focus on towns and roads, with distances between cities indicated along each route. The introduction to the text is signed by "R.B." so this volume is also often attributed to Robert Baird, Richard Bache or Robert Bache. This is the second edition, which was first published in 1832. 12mo. Hardbound in black cloth with brown leather title label on spine.

References: Howes #B-45; Sabin #2594.

Condition: B

The maps were printed on a bank-note style paper, and are moderately to heavily toned where they touched the sheets of text. For most of the maps, which are folding, this impacts only a strip of the map on recto. The text has scattered foxing. The front free-endpaper has several previous owner's names written in manuscript. The front hinge is nearly perished. The covers are scuffed with bumped corners and a few small chips. The spine is lightly worn and the title label is scuffed.