Abert in Comanche country with map 1846

Heading:
Author: Abert, James William
Title: Message from the President... Communicating a report of an expedition led by Lieutenant Abert, on the upper Arkansas and through the country of the Comanche Indians, in the fall of the year 1845
Place Published: Washington
Publisher:
Date Published: 1846
Description:

75 pp. With 11 lithographed plates, 1 folding; 2 lithographed maps, 1 quite large and folding. (8vo) 22.5x14 cm (8¾x5½"), modern half leather & marbled boards. First Edition.

Scarce first edition of Abert's important report with a significant map. Wagner-Camp writes that "The report begins on August 9, 1845 at Bent's Fort. The party traveled south to the Raton Mountains and thence down the Canadian River, returning through the Creek Nation and arriving at Fort Gibson on October 21. Abert made the first astronomical observations in this unknown country, and his map is therefore of great importance." The plates, made from watercolors by Abert, are quite striking, and include one of Bent's Fort. The large map is "Map Showing the Route pursued by the Exploring Expedition to New Mexico and the Southern Rocky Mountains made under the order of Captain J.C. Fremont U.S. Topographical Engineers and conducted by Lieut . J.W. Abert, assisted by Lieut. W.G. Peck, U.S.T.E. during the year 1845... Scale 31.56.99 miles to an inch." (49.3x71 cm). It shows the Platte and its north and south forks from the Missouri River to the Rockies, the Arkansas and Canadian Rivers, etc., with locations of Sioux, Pawnee, Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Comanche and Kiowa Indians. The smaller map is "Sketch of a Days Travel Scale 4 miles to an inch." Howes A10; Graff 6; Wagner-Camp 120.
Condition Report: Some darkening to the text, large folding map with a bit of wear at fold intersections; very good.