487 p.; 8vo; original stamped dark green cloth, gilt; later endpapers; frontis; 57 lithographic plates, some folding; 1 folding map; lacks atlas of 2 folding maps. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Grambo & Co, 1852. First Edition, Senate Issue. Howes S884. Wagner-Camp IV, 219:2. Stansbury, a veteran of railroad and canal surveys in the Great Lakes from 1838, and a captain in the corps of topographical engineers, was instructed in 1849 to explore the Great Salt Lake basin with John Williams Gunnison as his assistant. Jim Bridger was later hired as a guide for the expedition. While Gunnison went directly to the Mormon settlements, Stansbury and Bridger began by seeking a better route around the Wasatch Range to the north and found a good path through Cache Valley. The whole endeavor became imperiled when Stansbury received word of Mormon suspicion and hostility to a survey of the basin. Stansbury had a long conference with leader Brigham Young that successfully allayed their fears. In October 1849 Stansbury commenced an arduous journey, starting from the western side of the Great Salt Lake, where few had been, and continuing with some hardship until his company had made it completely around the lake. Among the achievements of the survey were Stansbury's recognition that the Great Salt Lake was residuary from Lake Bonneville and in locating the most direct and efficient route to Salt Lake, which had a lasting affect on subsequent transportation through the area. In addition to gathering a respectable amount of geographical data, the report was also informative regarding the Mormon community and the environmental challenges that they faced. Cover rubbed at edges & corners; head of spine frayed; slight shelf lean; occasional light foxing; 2" closed tear from foredge of 1st folding plate [Panorama from Rock Gate] into illus.; hinges tight, probably from expert repair; good or better condition.

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