[LEWIS & CLARK] Thwaites, Reuben Gold. ed. Original Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition 1804-1806.
Item #1076
Printed from the Original Manuscripts in the Library of the American Philosophical Society and by Direction of its committee on Historical Documents. Together with, Manuscript Material of Lewis and Clark from other sources, including Note-books, Letters, Maps, etc. and the Journals of Charles Floyd and Joseph Whitehouse. Now for the First Time Published in Full and Exactly as Written. Edited with Introduction, Notes and Index by Reuben Gold Thwaites. Eight octavo vols., including one Atlas volume. Red buckram, lettered and decorated in gilt; t.e.g; facsimiles, maps, plans, views, portraits, and a bibliography. New York: Dodd Mead & Co., 1904, [1905]. First Trade Edition, Limited to 750 copies. Erickson, Skinner & Merchant 196:5d1. Howes L320. Thwaites's comprehensive introduction covers the history of the expedition and prior exploration, with a detailed description of the original journals and their various editions. Many supplementary materials were included in this edition for the first time. Also impressive is the Atlas volume of fifty-four maps, facsimiles chiefly by Clark, covering almost every step of the route, with the last chart draughted for this publication.[Erickson et al.] Frederick Jackson Turner said of Thwaites's work: " He ferreted out from their concealment missing documents necessary to complete the journals; deciphered the difficult handwriting and spelling of these historic frontiersmenāmastered the problem of correlating and printing the several journals of the Expedition; drew upon all of his resources of typographic and editorial skill to give an absolutely faithful reproduction to the originals." Covers moderately rubbed & soiled; vol.1 spine a bit crimped near foot; several hinges tender or slightly cracked but firm; browning to rear e.p. & pastedown of vol.2, else internally very clean; vol.1 with 2.5" sq. gift card tipped in on front pastedown; provenance: recipient Major Evan Kelley, U.S. Forest Serv. with his bookplate on pastedown of vol. 6; Univ. Of Montana Library, with gift bookplate from Major Kelley on pastedown of vol. 8; Letter laid in, vol.1, acknowledging that the set was never accessioned into the collection of the Mansfield Library [Univ. of Montana], but sold. No other library markings. A very good set of a scarce and desirable edition. |
