1840 · London
by Townsend, John K
London, 1840. Two volumes. xii,310; xi,[1],312pp. Frontispiece in each volume. Contemporary three-quarter morocco and marbled boards, spines gilt. Corners rubbed, light wear to front hinges. Bookplate on front pastedown. Light scattered foxing and soiling. Very good. First London edition, after the American edition of 1839 under a slightly different title. The author's name is misspelled "Townshend" in this edition. Townsend was part of Wyeth's second trading expedition to Oregon in 1834, and his narrative is considered one of the finest early overland narratives. Townsend travelled with Nuttall, and the two were probably the first American scientists to travel to Oregon. Townsend was a specialist in ornithology, and the notes he gathered on this trip were turned over to Audubon for use in the ORNITHOLOGICAL BIOGRAPHY. In addition to extensive natural history observations, Townsend records his observations about the Indians of the region and gives details about the lives of the fur traders in the Columbia area. On the return trip by sea Townsend stopped at Tahiti, Chile, the Sandwich Islands, and Juan Fernandez. HOWES T319. HILL 1712. SABIN 96383. GRAFF 4174. MATTES 24. WAGNER-CAMP 79:2. FORBES 1249. TWENEY, WASHINGTON 77 (British ed). REESE, BEST OF THE WEST 72 (ref)
(Inventory #: WRCAM43970)