Heading: (Pacific Railroad Reports)
Author:
Title: Reports of Explorations and Surveys, to Ascertain the Most Practicable and Economical Route for A Railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Made Under the Direction of the Secretary of War, in [1853-55]
Place Published: Washington, D.C.
Publisher:
Date Published: 1855-1859
Description:

10 volumes (Vols. I-X). Extensively illustrated with color lithograph plates of scenic views, black & white lithographs of geological, botanical & zoological subjects (including the hand-colored lithographs of birds), graphs & charts, folding maps, etc. (4to) 29x22 cm. (11x8½"), original brown brown cloth, gilt-lettered spines. Senate Issues.

The first ten volumes of the quarto edition of the massive compilation of Secretary of War Jefferson Davis in the largest concerted effort to map the western frontier of the United States to that time. The complete set numbered 12 volumes bound in 13. Four major routes were surveyed, from a northern route terminating at the mouth of the Columbia River to a southern route running through Texas to San Diego. Superbly illustrated with color lithographs of the countryside and native peoples of the regions explored, and with numerous maps detailing areas never before surveyed. This monumental work ranks as a major landmark in the opening of the west. Among the principal contributors were A.A. Humphreys, G.K. Warren, Isaac Ingalls Stevens, J.G. Parke, A.W. Whipple, J.C. Ives, W.H. Emory, and Spencer F. Baird. The important series of lithographic views of the West, from drawings by Richard and Edward Kern, Tom Mix Stanley, Charles Koppel and others, presented to the world some of the first depictions of previously unexplored regions of the West, and some of its newly settled regions. Wagner-Camp notes, "Despite their flaws, these volumes contain a monumental collection of scientific information, geographical, zoological, botanical, geological, of the still mysterious American West. Upon first examination, the volumes seem forbiddingly disorganized... however these faults are amply compensated by the richness of the material within." Howes P3; Wagner-Camp 262-267. The set is not fully collated, but does not appear to be incomplete, and the lithographed view of Los Angeles is present.

Some wear to covers, a few spines faded, Vol. VI ends chipped; Vol. VII rebound and slightly trimmed down, covers detached, ex-library with markings; overall in quite nice condition.