PBA Galleries

83, [1], 186, [4], 148 pp. With 2 maps, one folding. (8vo) 21.5x13.5 cm (8½x5½") rebound in modern brown cloth, spine lettered in gilt.

This scarce volume contains reprints of important reports by Emory and Fremont. The first twenty-nine pages comprise Fremont's Geographical Memoir Upon Upper California, first printed in 1848; the next section of eighty-three pages reprints Emory's narrative, which originally appeared under the title, Notes of a Military Reconnaissance, including Lieut. Abert's notes, and was first issued in 1848; the final portion contains Fremont's Narrative of the Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, in the Year 1842; and to Oregon and North California, in the Years 1843-44. Fremont's report, which was first published in 1845, gives an account of two different expeditions. These reprint editions issued by Appleton's, apparently meant to be bound together (but not always found that way), are significant as popular versions of important overland travel narratives. "...These editions continued to serve as overland guides, both to Oregon and to California" - Wagner-Camp. The large folding map is "Map of the United States, Mexico, &c. Showing the Various Land and Water Routes from the Atlantic Cities to California." The smaller woodcut map shows the California gold region, with names of significant mining districts noted.  Text in double-column format. Wagner-Camp 148:10, 115:13. Sabin 25836. Wheat Gold Region 72, 88.