History of the Expedition Under the Command of Captains Lewis and Clark, to the Sources of the Missouri, thence Across the Rocky Mountains and Down the River Columbia to the Pacific Ocean Performed during the Years 1804-5-6 by Order of the Government of the United States

Philadelphia: Bradford and Inskeep, 1814. First Edition. Hardcover. Very good-. Octavo, 2 volumes. Without the large folding map, and seemingly one of the many copies issued without it, with no clear evidence of it having been removed. Collation: Volume I: 2 blanks, [i-iii], iv-xxviii, 1-470pp., 2 blanks. Volume II: 2 blanks, [i-iii], vi-ix, [blank], 1-522pp., [2 blanks]. Two plates in volume I, and another three in volume II, as called for. Rebound in a rather unique mid-20th century binding of rough-textured cloth in an almost psychadelic pink and blue pattern (with matching endpapers), and red cloth spine and tips. Black buckram spine labels, with faded, though legible, stamped titles. A nearly very good set, with moderate, even foxing throughout, including to the plates. Some tidemarks and staining, but nothing obscene. Inner hinges with thin partial cracks, though the books are sturdy and sound. The last text leaf in volume I has a long tear, affecting much text, which has been crudely repaired with old, but non-staining paper tape on the verso. The repair is such that the text does not line up quite perfectly, but the text is all legible, and there is no notable loss. A book that hardly needs an introduction. The first complete narrative of Lewis and Clark's journey into the far reaches of the Louisiana Purchase territory, this is the book that cemented America's Manifest Destiny, and all of the conflicts and dispossession that came with it. All sources agree that a decent number of the 2,000 copies printed and offered for sale were issued without the large folding map.

This copy contains an interesting document and association, with a typed list of books neatly tipped onto the rear free endpaper, entitled "Books Pretaining to the Lewis and Clark Expeditions January 1, 1903." The list of reference books is signed in type: "With compliments of Wm. Hancock Clark, Army & Navy Club, Washington, D. C." The set contains no ownership markings of any kind, so we are unaware of the significance of this list. However, William Hancock Clark was indeed a descendant of the great explorer. A brief biography on Stanford University Library's website offers this: "William Hancock Clark was born in 1839 and served with the United States Navy during the 1860s, stationed in Hong Kong with the China Squadron. He returned to New York after the Civil War started, but refused to serve with the Union. As a result, he spent two years in a federal prison. Clark's first wife was Eva Beardsley and his second wife was Camilla Gaylord. He died in 1922."

A perfectly presentable copy of one of the key American books.

WAGNER-CAMP 13:1. PRINTING AND THE MIND OF MAN 272. GROLIER AMERICAN 100, 30. HOWES L317 (dd). GRAFF 2477. SABIN 40828. CHURCH 1309. FIELD 928. STREETER SALE 1777. AMERICAN IMPRINTS 31924.