ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND BEST-ILLUSTRATED SURVEYS OF THE WEST

IVES, Joseph C. Report upon the Colorado River of the West, Explored in 1857 and 1858 by Lieutenant Joseph C. Ives… Under the Direction of the Office of Explorations and Surveys… By Order of the Secretary of War. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1861. Quarto, early 20th-century three-quarter black morocco, raised bands, marbled endpapers and edges. Housed in a custom clamshell box. $3200.

First edition, Senate issue, of this important survey of the Colorado River area, with two large folding maps, eight large folding panoramic views, seven full-page chromolithographic portraits of Native Americans, 16 full-page engravings and lithographs of views (one in color, five tinted), three paleontology plates and numerous in-text wood-engravings.

This important government report describes Ives' expedition through Colorado in 1857 and 1858. He "made a minute hydrographic survey, using an iron steamer built in Philadelphia… He continued his exploration by skiff and later made a land journey… The comprehensive observations of Ives and the scientists accompanying his expedition were a distinct contribution to the knowledge of a little-known and superficially explored region" (DAB). Ives' own section of the expedition report was "a masterpiece, combining the characteristics of a scientific paper and romantic literature" (Goetzmann & Williams, Atlas of North American Exploration). He was also "the first to give us the results of an intelligent observer of the celebrated, yet almost mythical, fortified villages of the Moquis Indians" (Goetzmann, 379-94). Howes I92. Wagner-Camp 375. Sabin 35308. Owner ink stamp to title page, penciled ownership inscription.

Light rubbing to front joint, binding sound. Text generally clean. Folding maps with archival tape repairs on versos. A handsome copy.