US & Mexican boundary survey H.R. issue 1857-59

Heading:
Author: Emory, William H.
Title: Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, Made Under the Direction of the Secretary of the Interior
Place Published: Washington
Publisher:Cornelius Wendell, printer
Date Published: 1857
Description:

Volume One (two parts) only. xvi, 258; viii, 174 pp. With one large foldout Map of the United States and Their Territories Between the Mississippi and the Pacific Ocean: 51x58 cm (20x22¾"). Steel-engraved plates of views (1 of which, "View of Monument Mountain" is not listed); color lithographs of Indians or views; steel-engraved paleontological plates. 28.7x22.5 cm (11¼x8¾"), blindstamped black cloth boards re-backed retaining original cloth spine strip with gilt lettering. First Edition, House Issue.

Report on government explorations in the Southwest, noteworthy for the striking illustrations as well as the text. Wagner-Camp notes that "Emory's writing style and system of organization lacks the quality of John C. Fremont, but the scientific content of the Report is indeed comparable to Fremont's earlier Narrative, according to William H. Goetzmann. Although Emory had been a key member of the Commission ever since its beginning, his narrative of his own adventures is sketchy and inadequate, and reflects in it some of his animosity toward John Bartlett. Emory's own contribution to the Report is cartographic; as the Commission's chief astronomer, he had made most of the several thousand observations which were incorporated into the maps...." Goetzmann pp. 198-99; Howes E146; Wagner-Camp 291.
Condition Report: Gilt fading a bit on spine, corners bumped, some stains and scuffs to cover; leaves bumped at top right corner throughout, some offsetting from plates, a bit of foxing; toning to some plates, occasional stains; very good overall.