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 Juan, Rivers; Performed by the Order of the Government of the United States during the Years 1805, 1806, and 1807. And a Tour through the Interior Part

Philadelphia: Published by C. & A. Conrad, & Co..., 1810. Full Description:

PIKE, Z[ebulon] M[ontgomery]. 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 Juan, Rivers; Performed by the Order of the Government of the United States during the Years 1805, 1806, and 1807. And a Tour through the Interior Parts of New Spain, When Conducted through these Provinces, by Order of the Captain-General, in the Year 1807. Illustrated by Maps and Charts. Philadelphia: Published by C. & A. Conrad, & Co...., 1810.

First edition of the first United States government expedition to the Southwest and one of the most important of all American travel narratives. Octavo (8 1/2 x 5 1/4 inches; 216 x 135 mm). 5, [1, blank], [1], [1, blank], 105, [1, blank], [9, Meteorological Observations], [1, blank], [107]-277, [3, blank], [2, Meteorological Observations], 65, [1], 53, [1, blank], 87, [1, blank] pp. Stipple-engraved frontispiece portrait of Pike by Edwin, and with six engraved maps and charts, five of which are folding, and three folding letterpress tables.

Full contemporary sheep. Spine with repairs along hinges and head and tail piece. Black leather spine label, lettered in gilt. Edges speckled brown. Boards with some minor rubbing and chipping. Some light foxing and toning throughout. The second letterpress chart with a two-inch closed tear at the margin, but with no loss. Overall a very good copy and much better than usually found.

This important expedition was made as part of a concerted effort by President Jefferson to explore the newly acquired territory west of the Mississippi. Leaving the St. Louis area in July, 1806, Pike explored Kansas, Oklahoma, Northern Texas, the Spanish settlements of New Mexico, and Colorado until captured by the Spanish. Conducted through Santa Fé to Chihuahua, he was returned through Texas to Louisiana. All of Pike's papers were confiscated, but he managed to save his precious journals by secreting them amongst his men. When published in 1810, the narrative offered the first accurate description of the great Southwest. The maps were the first to exhibit a geographic knowledge of the Southwest based on first hand exploration and are considered "milestones in the mapping of the American West" (Wheat).

Graff 3290. Howes P373 ("First government exploration of the Southwest"). Sabin 62936. Streeter 3125. Streeter, Texas, 1047. Wagner-Camp 9:1. Wheat, Transmississippi West, 297, 298, and 299.

HBS 68974.

$13,500.