Jedediah Smith and His Maps of the American West [Signed by Both Authors]. Author: Morgan, Dale L. Published: San Francisco; California Historical Society, 1954. Condition: Near fine (please see full item description for details). Description: Printed by Lawton Kennedy in an edition of 530 copies. Large folio in original brick red cloth, 86 pages, with four maps bound in (three folding) and three folded in a rear pocket. Signed by both Morgan and Wheat on the front flyleaf, and accompanied by the “Apologia” sheet, which is also signed by both, and the original prospectus. Book is near fine, with a tiny bit of rubbing to corners, some scuffing to rear board. Streeter 3099: As Carl Wheat says in his Introduction,’One of the major anomalies of American History is that Jedediah Smith, today recognized as the early West? S greatest single explorer, was for almost a century largely a forgotten figure. One reason is that none of Smith? S own maps have survived. Here Wheat and Morgan, by showing Smith? S influence on maps that have survived, establish him as a great explorer as well as a great fur trader, who more than any other had travelled the West. The most important of these maps is the American Geographical Society? S copy of the well known Preuss map that accompanied the report of the Fremont exploring expedition of 1842 (Washington, 1843) on which George Gibbs had interpolated in ms. Various findings of Smith. ” The American National Biography entry on Smith calls him “the most intelligent and well read of the American fur men, a diarist, and a mapmaker as well as a first-rate explorer” and notes that in addition to his most important discovery — the key South Pass route through the Rocky Mountains — “Smith added greatly to Americans? Knowledge of the Mojave Desert, the Great Basin, California, and Oregon. Condition Descriptions Defined: We grade our books and dust jackets using the traditional language of the antiquarian book trade. In brief: Fine is the highest grade and means essentially as new, without visible faults or defects; Near Fine means approaching fine, but with one or more very minor defects or faults, which will be noted; Very Good means the book shows some general (but not too offensive) signs of wear and use, which will be noted; Good means the book is complete and intact, but has more wear or some internal markings. Any ex-library book will be graded no higher than Good, even if it is otherwise a very nice copy. Again, all flaws will be noted. We rarely offer any books in Fair or Poor condition, but if we do, the reasons for the grade will be evident from the photo(s) and description. Please notify us in advance of any return. About us: Walkabout Books is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA) and the Independent Online Booksellers Association (IOBA). This item is in the category “Books & Magazines\Antiquarian & Collectible”. The seller is “walkaboutbooks” and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Author: Morgan, Dale L.; Wheat, Carl I.
- Subject: Americana
- Topic: Americana – Western
- Binding: Hardcover
- Special Attributes: 1st edition
- Publisher: California Historical Society
- Publication Year: 1954
- Publication Location: San Francisco