PBA Galleries

Pp. 126-244 in Part II of Message from the President of the United States to the Two Houses of Congress, (Ex. Doc. 1, 31st Congress, 2d Session). Whole volume Parts I & II offered, 444, 488 pp. The Cross work illustrated with 35 lithographed plates, 2 of them folding. 22.5x14.3 cm. (9x5½"), morocco backed marbled boards, gilt-lettered spine.

Detailed description of the emigrant trail to Oregon, amply illustrated with scenes along the way; the troops were moving west to the new military posts on the Pacific Coast. This official edition was preceded by a Philadelphia edition in 1850 of which only a few copies were made up for the author. Mattes notes that "This report...is a mine of information, not only about the army's advance to garrison posts along the Oregon Trail, but also about the concurrent pageantry of the California gold rush." Howes says that this is found with 34, 35, 36 and 37 plates. Of further note, pp.35 - 168 of Part I is the Report of The Commissioner of Indian Affairs, which includes material on Western Indians. Pp. 50 - 56 is the report of Thomas Fitzpatrick. Part II is the Report of the Secretary of War and contains much on the west, in addition to Cross' report.

Provenance: Ross Valley Book Company, 12/91

References: Mattes 415; Graff 4415; Howes C923; Sabin 17660; Wagner-Camp 181:3.