Pike, Zebulon M.

An Account of the Expeditions to the Sources of the Mississippi, and through the Western Parts of Louisiana, to the Sources of the Arkansaw, Kans, La Platte and Pierre Juan, Rivers; performed ... during the Years 1805, 1806, and 1807. And a Tour through the Interior Parts of New Spain ... in the Year 1807. Philadelphia: Printed by John Binns for C. & A. Conrad; Somervell & Conrad, Petersburgh; Bonasal, Conrad & Co., Norfolk; and Fielding Lucas, jr. Baltimore, 1810



2 volumes, 8vo (8 1/2 x 4 7/8 in.; 216 x 124 mm). Stipple-engraved frontispiece portrait of Pike by Edwin, 6 engraved maps and charts of which 5 are folding, 3 folding letterpress tables; five plates unobtrusively rebacked, frontispiece, front endpapers and margins of first map dampstained, long tear in second and third tables repaired, two small holes in blank portion of first map, repaired tear in second map, somewhat browned throughout, scattered marginal spotting, occasional slight spotting or offsetting on maps with a few minor repairs. Antique quarter red morocco and marbled boards.

Field, Indian Bibliography 1217; Graff 3290; Howes P-373; Sabin 62836; Streeter, Texas 1047; Streeter sale 5:3125; Wagner-Camp 9:1; Wheat, Mapping the Transmississippi West 297-299

First edition, the first government exploration of the southwest.

Charged with the exploration of the southwestern borders of the Louisiana Purchase, Pike led expeditions to the Arkansas and Red Rivers, south from Colorado to present-day New Mexico where he was stopped by Spanish officials who confiscated his maps and notes, escorting him across Texas to the Louisiana border. His account of his expedition, especially his remarks on the weakness of Spanish authority in Santa Fe and the value of trade with Mexico, had the effect of promoting the American settlement of Texas.