Beschreibung:

Title: Commerce of the Prairies: or a Journal of a Santa Fe Trader, during Eight Expeditions across the Great Western Prairies, and a Residence of Nearly Nine Years in Northern New Mexico. Author: Gregg, Josiah Place: New York and London Publisher: Henry G. Langley / Wiley & Putnam Date: 1844 Description: 2 volumes. 320; 318 pp. Illus. with 2 steel-engraved frontispieces; 3 (of 4) wood-engraved plates; 2 engraved maps (1 folding); 5 illustrations in the text. (12mo) original dark brown embossed cloth, gilt vignettes on front covers & spines, spines lettered in gilt. First Edition, Second Issue. Second Issue with London added to the publisher's imprint. "This work stands as a cornerstone 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 work was immortalized as a "southwest classic" by Lawrence Clark Powell who remarks "Gregg's stone-ground prose evokes the life of the Santa Fe Trail as no other book does. His passion for the prairies was also a passion for knowing. He was a tireless observer and recorder." Gregg made his first trip over the trail in 1831, and his last in 1839. Wheat calls the folding map, printed from a copper plate using the cerographic process, a "cartographic landmark...an outstanding achievement." Howes G401; Rader 1684; Rittenhouse 255; Streeter 378; Wagner-Camp 108:2; Wheat Transmississippi 482. Lot Amendments Condition: Spine ends chipped, splitting along joints, corners rubbed; long tear to folding map, lacking one plate from Volume 1, large chip to tissue guard for frontispiece of Volume 2; some foxing; very good. Item number: 218215