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Title page, table of contents + 63 engraved maps, 2 of them folding. (4to) 27x21.5 cm (10¾x8½"), period boards, later calf spine.

The maps are from the same plates as the 1804 first edition. Warren Heckrotte comments about the maps in the first edition: "This is a gathering of maps by Arrowsmith and by Lewis. The maps by Arrowsmith are taken from Pinkerton's Modern Geography, London, 1802. Lewis' maps are those of the States and territories. The map of Louisiana (Wheat 259) is important. The map of Ohio is one of first of state. Wheat, curiously, was unaware of Pinkerton's book." In addition to   the significant Louisiana, it includes British Possessions in America (Wheat 260), Spanish Dominions in North America (Wheat 261) and North America (Wheat 262) - about which Wheat says collectively "When considered together the four afford a remarkably clear epitome of the knowledge of the West at the moment when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were poised for the take-off of their history-making expedition." Seven of the maps (all of New England states) have early hand-coloring, some accomplished, a few rather crude. The impressions on some of the maps are rather weak.

Provenance: Cedric Robinson 5/80

References: P-LG 718