PBA Galleries

250 pp. With 72 lithographed plates, 27 of them in color, 3 of three of them folding, 2 folding lithographed maps. (8vo) original brown cloth, rebacked, leather spine label lettered in gilt. First Edition.

Important reconnaissance in Texas, with striking plates of the land explored, the natives encountered, rock inscriptions, etc., a number printed in color, an early use of color lithography. Jenkins remarks that the work is a "valuable compendium of reports of government explorations that led to the opening of West Texas to travel and settlement..." The plates are numbered 1-75, but there were no plate numbers 2, 21, or 39 issued. The two maps are "Reconnaissances of Routes from San Antonio de Bexar, El Paso del Norte, &c. &c...." and "Map of the Route pursued in 1849 by the U.S. Troops, under the command of Bvt. Lieut. Col. Jno. M. Washington..." Graff 2228; Howes J120; Jenkins 111; Raines p.128; Sabin 36377; Wagner-Camp 184; Wheat Transmississippi 677.