198 pp. Illustrated with 79 lithographed plates, 1 fold-out; large folding map. 8¾x5½, original cloth, spine lettered in gilt.
The expedition, consisting of Sitgreaves, Lt. J.G. Parke, Dr. S.W. Woodhouse, R.H. Kern, with Major H.L. Kendrick in command of the escort and Antoine Lerouz as guide, "left Santo Domingo, New Mexico, on August 1, 1851, stopped at Zuni in September, and arrived in San Diego on November 30. Wheat discusses the route of the Sitgreaves expedition and highly praises the map, calling it `a monumental achievement..., generally correct and exceedingly well done.'" - Wagner-Camp. Most of the lithographed plates are from drawings and paintings by Richard Kern, a few by Edward Kern, some uncredited. They consist of 23 duotone lithographs of views, (numbered 1-24, with no plate 14, as issued); 6 animal plates; 5 bird plates (no plate 2, as issued); 21 reptile plates (numbered 1-20, with two numbered 13); 3 fish plates; and 21 botanical plates. Howes S521; Wagner-Camp 230:2; Wheat, Transmississippi, 763. Senate Executive No. 59, 32nd Congress, 2nd Session.
Condition:
Mild corner bumps and a bit of fraying to spine ends; mild foxing, faint dampstain to lower corners of some pages, light marginal dampstain to latter plages, short stub tear to map, still a near fine, fresh copy, much better than usually found.