$369
Ives, Joseph Christmas (1829-1868) Report Upon the Colorado River of the West. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1861. Large quarto, illustrated with two large folding maps, eight folding panoramic views, twelve full page illustrations (one tinted), seven full page Indian portraits in color, forty-one text wood engravings; six additional full page plates in the geology section, and twenty-seven text wood engravings (for a total of fifty-five full page plates); bound in publisher's dark brown textured cloth boards, blocked in gilt with a steam boat on the front board, rebacked, with the original spine replaced; text with some foxing, some of the plates tipped into the text block sloppily, with too much glue, short tear in one map, 11 1/4 x 8 1/4 in. Ives and his party were the first to survey and map the Grand Canyon, obtusely proclaiming it "altogether valueless." "It can be approached only from the south, and after entering it there is nothing to do but leave. Ours has been the first, and will doubtless be the last party of whites to visit this profitless locality. It seems intended by nature that the Colorado, along the greater portion of its lonely and majestic way, shall be forever unvisited and undisturbed."
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2014-11-16
