RARE MID-19TH CENTURY AMERICAN ANTIQUE (1856) 1ST. EDITION, ILLUSTRATED CLOTH VOLUME, 'THE LIFE of COLONEL JOHN CHARLES FREMONT & HIS NARRATIVE of EXPLORATIONS & ADVENTURES in KANSAS, NEBRASKA, OREGON & CALIFORNIA,' with CHOCOLATE BROWN CLOTH COVER, GOLD GILT EMBOSSED SPINE TYPOGRAPHY & STAMPED FRONT & BACK COVERS, FEATURING SEVERAL STEEL ENGRAVED ILLUSTRATIONS of ARTIST'S RENDERINGS
[*Inset steel engraving of the author by J. C. Buttre, from a photograph by (Matthew) Brady?]
NY & Auburn: Miller, Orton & Mulligan
NY: 25 Park Row, Auburn: 107 Genesee St.
The MEMOIR by
SAMUEL M. SMUCKER, A. M.,
Author of "The Life and Reign of Catherine 11.," Nicholas I, of Russia," etc.
(Dated 1856)
Mid-19th century American antique cloth volumes of American exploration and travel journals in the western territories of North American and early European interactions with Native Americans
DIMENSIONS:
7 3⁄4" Height x 5 1⁄2" Width x 1 1⁄2" Height
Weight: 1 lb. 4 oz.
DESCRIPTION:
A very hard-to-find and splendid mid-19th century American antique cloth volume of early exploration and travel in the American western territories and the narrated early interactions with the Native American people inhabiting the land there, while also giving detailed, topographic descriptions of the geography, mountain ranges, rivers, landscape and of the vast, largely unchartered territories, that later became known as the states of California, Oregon, Kansas & Nebraska. The volume titled, 'The Life of Col. John Charles Fremont and His Narrative of Explorations and Adventures in Kansas, Nebraska, Oregon and California' was published in 1856 by Miller, Orton and Mulligan and was written by the American explorer and writer Colonel John Charles Fremont. Although there were several individual and group expeditions out west after the more famous and well documented Lewis and Clark Expeditions, at the onset of the early 19th century, nonetheless, every individual travel account and personal narrative is exciting and important, due to the pool of collected knowledge it contributes, to the accounts already known and shared in history. This mid-19th century American antique volume features several steel engravings from artist renderings. It's fairly well-preserved, with only some minor wear on the top edges of the clothbound spine and some minor rubbing, scuffs and slight abrasions on its front and back cover. There's also some expected instances of episodes of minor foxing and tanning, that occur on the interior pages. The volume was signed in sepia brown ink by its former first owner John G. Fischer and dated March 22, 1858. Outstanding and an exciting read and addition to any personal antiquarian library, concerning itself with American history and in particular, the early 19th century exploration and travels in the largely unknown vast North American frontier and western territories and early European interactions with the Native peoples there. The publication of this volume precedes the US Civil War. Exhilarating.
CONDITION:
Good to Very Good overall antique condition.