Commerce of the Prairies: or The Journal of a Santa F, Trader, During Eight Expeditions Across the Great Western Prairies, and a Residence of Nearly Nine Years in Northern Mexico. (2 volumes)

Philadelphia: J.W. Moore, 1849 Book. Very Good. Hardcover. 4th Edition. 2 volumes. Fourth edition. 12mo. Pp. 320, 318. Five plates (of 6), single-page map in volume 2, text vignettes (lacking "Indian Alarm on the Cimmeron River"). New three-quarter green leather, marbled boards, gilt-lettered spine. Scattered light foxing or browning throughout. A very good set in an attractive binding. Fourth edition of the "chief contemporary authority on the Santa Fé trade-route and traffic" (Howes). "Gregg made his first trip over the SFT in 1831; his last trip to Santa Fe was in 1839 ... a corner-stone of all studies on the SFT in the early period, describing the origin and development of the trade, Gregg's own experiences, and useful statistics for 1822-43..." (Rittenhouse). "The value of the book as an account of the early trading expeditions over the famous Santa Fé trail, of pioneer life in the extreme southwest prior to its acquisition by the United States, of the condition of affairs in New Mexico during the author's nine years' residence as a trader therein, and of the manners and customs of the aborigines of New Mexico and Texas with whom he came in contact, can scarcely be overestimated. The narrative is interesting, truthful almost beyond criticism, and withal is one of the best contributions to Southwestern literature that has ever appeared" (Larned). [Field: 265; Graff: 1659 (1st ed.); Howes I: G-401; Howes II: G-400; Larned: 2040; Rader: 1684; Rittenhouse: 255; Sabin: 28712; Streeter: 378; Streeter Texas: 1502-A to E; Wagner-Camp: 108-10]. .