Lot 266
  • 266

Lewis, Meriwether, and William Clark

Estimate
100,000 - 150,000 USD
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Description

  • 'History of the Expedition under the Command of Captains Lewis and Clark, to the Sources of the Missouri, thence across the Rocky Mountains and down the River Columbia to the Pacific Ocean. Performed during the years 1804-5-6'. Philadelphia: [J. Maxwell at New York for] Bradford and Inskeep and Abm. H. Inskeep, New York, 1814
  • paper, ink
2 volumes, 8vo (8 1/2 x 5 1/4 in; 215 x 130mm). Engraved folding map of the route, 5 engraved plates; some mostly marginal spotting, a few quires browned, early owner's notes on pages xv, 58, 150-151, 173, arithmetic calculations in pencil on rear flyleaf of vol. I, the map with some light spotting strengthened at left margin with tissue and with tiny fold-tear in lower margin. Publisher's cream printed boards, uncut, in a modern brown half morocco slipcase; backstrip of vol. I worn, that of vol. II gone,covers scuffed and rubbed, edges torn, upper hinge of vol. II weak.

Provenance

John R. Donnells (ms. exlibris on front pastedown and flyleaf) — Sotheby's New York, December 14, 2012, lot 170

Literature

Church 1309; Graff 2477; Grolier/American 30; Howes L-317; PMM 272; Sabin 40828; Wagner-Camp-Becker 13:1

Condition

2 volumes, 8vo (8 1/2 x 5 1/4 in; 215 x 130mm). Engraved folding map of the route, 5 engraved plates; some mostly marginal spotting, a few quires browned, early owner's notes on pages xv, 58, 150-151, 173, arithmetic calculations in pencil on rear flyleaf of vol. I, the map with some light spotting strengthened at left margin with tissue and with tiny fold-tear in lower margin. Publisher's cream printed boards, uncut, in a modern brown half morocco slipcase; backstrip of vol. I worn, that of vol. II gone,covers scuffed and rubbed, edges torn, upper hinge of vol. II weak.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the condition report is a statement of opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's. For that reason, Sotheby's condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot.

Catalogue Note

First edition of the "definitive account of the most important exploration of the North American continent" (Wagner-Camp)An extraordinary copy, uncut, in the original printed boards.The expedition was funded by Congress for the purpose of establishing trading ties with the Indians of the western region. Besides accomplishing this goal, the explorers greatly broadened the geographical knowledge of the West, and demonstrated the feasibility of transcontinental travel. The expedition made its way from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back between spring 1804 and fall 1806. A number of circumstances, including their appointment to official positions in the new Louisiana Territory and Lewis's mysterious death, conspired to delay the publication of the official narrative of their travels for eight years. The American edition was compiled from the Lewis and Clark journals by Paul Allen and contains a prefatory "Life of Captain Lewis" by Thomas Jefferson.