(London [and] Philadelphia: Sampson Low, Son, and Co. [and] Lippincott, Grambo and Co., 1852).

FIRST EDITION OF THIS SCARCE AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT AMERICAN WESTERN TRAVEL NARRATIVE, an early work on the Mormon's in the Utah Territory and one replete with many fine lithographs and engraved plates.
Stansbury's account of explorations from Fort Leavenworth to Great Salt Lake passes through a vast territory at that time only vaguely known to the outside world. His report of this very noteworthy military expedition is of great value for numerous reasons. Stansbury was a scrupulously honest and careful observer, thus his record of the physical features of the land, and of the people of the country through which he passed, is unsurpassed. He had liberal views of the Mormons, who were at that time considered highly suspicious by almost everyone outside of their community. Thus his writings were not based on hearsay or rash opinions but on a year's intimate acquaintance and close study of them, which was unique. The appendices to the report by various naturalists, complete with fine engraved plates, further enhance its scientific value.
The route taken by Stansbury's expedition would become in later years that used by the famous 'Pony Express' mail service. Item #30077

First Edition, first issue for the trade with the American sheets printed in Philadelphia, the original binding done for that issue and the title-page with the slug added showing both Sampson Low and Lippincott as the publishers. "Illustrated by numerous beautiful plates from drawings taken on the spot", these being a profusion of fine Ackerman lithographs, many tinted in colour and several folding, many engraved plates and a folding La Hontan map. The two large folding maps are present, the largest one now rolled and backed for easy use and the other in a binding specially made for it incorporating materials from the original map folder. Tall 8vo, in the original Lippincott tan cloth binding, with blind embossed covers featuring an American Eagle within ornate blind stamped framework surrounding the borders of the covers, the spine gilt lettered and with "Lippincott, Grambo and Co." in gilt with another American Eagle seal and gilt ruling. 487 pp. A very well preserved copy of this scarce and important book, especially so for being in the publisher's cloth binding. The hinges are strong and tight and the text is still largely unopened, the foxing always found on this title is there but lightly so and sporadic, frequently not being present at all, some offset as is common too from the lithographs, the plates themselves being quite fresh and clean. The brown cloth is faded, there is some expected edge wear and the spine has mellowed but the gilt is still quite bright.