Report Upon the Colorado River of the West Lieutenant Joseph C. Ives

Lieutenant Joseph C. Ives. Report Upon the Colorado River of the West. Wash DC: Government Printing Office, 1861, 1st. edition, irregular pagination, 131, 14, 153, 30, 6, 31 pp. + Plates. *** Senate Ex. Doc., 36th. Congress, 1st. Session. This volume is a report on one of the more important exploratory expeditions of the West, undertaken just before the Civil War. Since the conclusion of the Mexican War in the 1840's the United States was anxious to find out as much as possible about it's newly won lands. Lt. Ives led a team that explored the course of the Colorado River from Fortification Rock to the Gulf of California. His report includes observations on geology, geography, hydrology, flora, fauna, ethnology, and paleontology. There are two large folding maps in front showing routes of the expedition. The frontis. is an engraved picture of the expedition's steamboat which was a sight to behold. This boat is also on the front cover stamped in gilt. Other illustrations include seven (7) color litho. plates of Indians of different tribes, thirteen (13) uncolored litho. plates that are mostly views, three (3) fossil plates, eight (8) folding views, and a number of engraved text drawings. This book is in my inventory and the images are of this particular item. *** Bound in dark brown cloth boards with pictorial gilt on front cover. The covers and spine are very worn, with joints broken, part of cloth on spine silver-fished. The contents are largely clean with a little dusting hear and there, complete and in good binding. Should be re-cased at some point. Folding maps are in very good condition. *** 12 inches tall by 9.25 inches. 5/30/2009 abe $299.00 # 1088