Möllhausen, Balduin. First edition of a south-western American classic

MÖLLHAUSEN, BALDUIN 

TAGEBUCH EINER REISE VORN MISSISSIPPI NACH DEN KUSTEN DER SUDSEE VON...MÖLLHAUSEN. EINGEFÜHRT VON ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT. LEIPZIG: HERMANN MENDELSSOHN, 1858

4to (12 x 9 1/4 in.; 305 x 235 mm). Half-title, title with wood-engraved vignette, 6pp. list of subscribers, folding lithographed map printed in two colors with the route marked by hand, 14 plates (including 7 mounted chromolithographs, 6 tinted lithographs, 1 uncolored wood-engraving), 8 wood-engraved illustrations, 2 of which full-page; some spotting. Publisher's brown cloth, covers blocked in blind, upper cover gilt lettered, spine blocked in gilt; neatly rebacked retaining original spine, endpapers renewed.

First edition of a south-western American classic

Möllhausen served as the artist of the 1853 Pacific Railroad Survey expedition led by Lt. A. W. Whipple along the 35th parallel through New Mexico and Arizona. "Möllhausen's account is regarded as a more interesting description of the Whipple Expedition than that published in the official Survey Report" (Wagner-Camp). However, the work is best remembered for its striking plates, particularly the mounted chromolithographs on card depicting Native Americans and scenery of the Southwest.

REFERENCE:

Graff 2852; Howes M713; Sabin 49914; Siebert Sale 876; Streeter Sale 3135; Wagner-Camp 305:1; Wheat, MTW 955