Heading: (Lewis & Clark Expedition)
Author: Fisher, William
Title: An Interesting Account of the Voyages and Travels of Captains Lewis and Clark, in the Years 1804, 1805, and 1806. Giving a Faithful Description of the River Missouri and Its Source - Of the Various Tribes of Indians Through Which They Passed - Manners and Customs - Soil - Climate - Commerce - Gold and Silver Mines...To which is added a Complete Dictionary of the Indian Tongue
Place Published: Baltimore
Publisher:Anthony Miltenberger
Date Published: 1812
Description:
326 pp. The pagination includes the two wood-engraved frontispiece portraits. (12mo) 16.5x9 cm (6¾ x3¾ "), professionally rebound with modern suede and morocco, raised bands, morocco spine labels. Second American Edition in English.

An edition of the "apocryphal" Lewis and Clark, published in response for the growing demand by the public for more information on the expedition, with the implication that it was an official publication, but actually being little more that a compilation and rehashing of Jefferson's Message of 1806, Patrick Gass's Journal published in 1807, and plagiarizations of portions of Jonathan Carver and Alexander Mackenzie. Despite its suspect origins, and the massive criticism it has received from scholars (Coues called it a "wretched meretricious compilation") it is important in that it helped to shape the impressions of America at the time. This version is slightly different than the Philadelphia: 1809 first edition, with Fisher listed as the author/compiler. There were also editions published in London, Lebanon, Pennsylvania (in German), and Frederick, Maryland (also in German) before this one. Sabin states that it contains material not published in any other edition. Howes F153a; Sabin 24508; Wagner-Camp 8:5.

Repairs throughout, mostly with archival tape, one leaf with corner missing, leaves darkened, foxing, light damp-stains to upper corners, ownership signature of Nicholas Myers, 1913, part of the signature with off setting and small holes; very good.