Stewart & Webb's Altowan

STEWART, William Drummond (ca 1795-1871)
& Sir. - WEBB, James Watson (1802-1884).
Altowan; or, Incidents of Life and Adventure in the Rocky Mountains.
By An Amateur Traveler. Edited by J. Watson Webb.
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1846.
Comparable: Christie's, 2007 - $12,500
2 volumes. 8vo., (7 2/8 x 4 4/8 inches). (Some intermittent pale spotting.) EXCEPTIONALLY FINE publisher's presentation binding of black morocco, covers with large gilt panel incorporating leaf and floral tools, spine gilt-lettered and -decorated, edges gilt (a few minor spots of rubbing at extremities, generally very fine); preserved in modern black quarter morocco slipcase and chemises.
Provenance: Presentation inscription to W.S. Stell [William Shorter Stell (1800-1863)] from J. Watson Webb on the front free endpaper of volume one: "For W.S. Stell from his friend Watson Webb", and on the recto of the first blank in volume II; with the library label of Amos Tuck French, Tuxedo Park on the front free endpaper of volume one and the front paste-down of volume II; above that of the Jay T. Snider Collection of Historical Americana, his sale Christie's 21st June, 2005, lot 241.
First edition and a SUPERB PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY THE EDITOR, J. WATSON WEBB IN EACH VOLUME: "To W.S. Stell from his friend Watson Webb." Based on travels of Captain William Drummond Stewart, a Scottish nobleman who would inherit the title of seventh baronet of Murthly Castle in 1838, who took sporting trips to the U.S. in 1832, 1838 and 1842, ACCOMPANIED BY THE CELEBRATED ARTIST ALFRED JACOB MILLER (1810-1874). Miller was the first Anglo-American painter to travel as far west as the Rocky Mountains, and the only one to paint a comprehensive view of the Rocky Mountain fur trade.