(Lewis & Clark) Travels to the Source of the Missouri River

(Lewis & Clark) Travels to the Source of the Missouri River, and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. Performed by Order of the Government of the United States, in the Years 1804, 1805, and 1806... By Captains Lewis and Clark. Published from the Official Report, and Illustrated by a Map of the Route, and Other Maps. London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1815, Three octavo volumes, engraved maps (one folding)

This is the expedition that has captured the nation's imagination, and this, one of the earliest records of the events. A cornerstone to mapping the continent and dispeller of myths, this is the incredible cartographic achievement produced by the Lewis & Clark expedition. Specifically, with the death of Merewhether Lewis, it is Clark's map of their almost 4,000 mile journey which he compiled, and was then copied by Samuel Lewis. It is the map that gave us a "living" understanding of the West, the bedrock substance which put to death the idea of a water route across the region, but opened up the possibility of land travel. The three volumes chronicle the journey and have a few single page maps that feature regions such as the "Great Falls of the Missouri". The accompanying large folding map (image measures 12 x 27) found in volume 1 titled "A Map of Lewis and Clark's Track Across The Western Portion of North America..." is indeed the historic backbone by which we began to understand the structure of the nation. A rare and important piece of American history.

Condition is good for all three volumes save for foxing throughout and a detached board. The large folding map has some foxing and wear and a few supportive repairs to the folds.