Zebulon Pike's Expeditions to the Sources of the Mississippi, 1805-1807 

Pike, Zebulon Montgomery (1779-1813). 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 Jaun, Rivers; Performed by 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. Philadelphia: C. & A. Conrad, & Co., Somervell & Conrad (Petersburgh), Bonsal, Conrad & Co. (Norfolk) and Fielding, Lucas, Jr. (Baltimore); John Binns, Printer, 1810. 8vo, paper-covered boards, page edges untrimmed (these were often intended to be bound to match the purchaser's library); presently in custom envelope and slipcase; collation: frontis port. by Edwin, 5pp, 277pp, [3 blank] (ii - chart), 65pp (Appendix, Pt. I) plus 2 folding charts, 53pp (Appendix, Pt. II) plus 1 folding chart, 87pp (Appendix, Pt. III), one single-page map and 5 folding maps.

Zebulon Pike was born in Somerset County, NJ, but grew up in frontier outposts in the Northwest Territory (Ohio & Illinois). He followed his father's footsteps into the army, and became a lieutenant in 1799. It was as a captain that he was sent on this expedition by Thomas Jefferson to explore the southern part of the Louisiana Territory, even while Lewis and Clark were heading northwest, and the Freeman-Custis expedition was looking for a more efficient route to Santa Fe. Pike's account of his explorations was extremely popular when it was published in 1810. Shortly after, war broke out again with England. Pike was by then a Brig. General. He was killed in the Battle of York, Ontario, in April 1813. He was only 34 years of age.

The expedition did "discover" what came to be known as Pike's Peak. They attempted to climb the mountain, but lack of food and waist-deep snow kept them from getting all the way to the top. Pike and the expedition were captured by the Spanish in the northern part of the Mexican territory (what is now southern Colorado) and held in Santa Fe. Pike was released about four months later, but some of his men were held for years. He was also able to obtain intelligence about Spanish-Mexican relations and had access to maps of the southwest while in Santa Fe, turning what could have been a overall bad situation into something with a number of benefits.

Boards rough. Spine broken in many places, but text block holding. Minor toning of page edges; scattered foxing. Pages somewhat wavy, but likely from humidity over two centuries rather than actual water exposure. Previous owners' names and bookplates.