Marcy, Randolph B.; McClellan, George B. Exploration of the Red River of Louisiana, in the year 1852 (2 volumes, includes map portfolio). Washington, [DC]: A. O. P. Nicholson, Public Printer, 1854. First Edition, 3rd issue.
Vol. I. very good in the original blindstamped publisher's cloth, 6 x 9 inches, light wear to ends & corners, small paper name & address label on ffep, former bookseller's notes in pencil on ffep. [ xvi.], 286 pp., 65 plates, complete with one repeated plate. There are 12 lithographed scenes (one of which - Views of Gypsum Bluffs on Canadian River - repeats in the place of View near head of the Ke-che-ah-qui-ho-no); a folding colored geology sectional with 9 additional b/w geology plates; 6 b/w plates of fossils; 18 b/w of animals (zoology); and 19 b/w botanicals.
Vol. II. "Maps to Marcy's Rept." Portfolio covers very good with bright gilt title to front, 6 x 9 inches. Contains the two maps -
1. Map of the country between the frontiers of Arkansas and New Mexico; embracing the section explored in 1849, - '50, - '51, and - '52, by Captain R. B. Marcy, 5th U. S. Infantry, under orders from the War Department. Also, a continuation of the emigrant road from Fort Smith down the valley of the Gila. 28 3/4 x 61 inches (including border), complete but has been poorly folded and refolded with 15-inch tears at two folds and numerous shorter tears, detached from the portfolio with one panel remaining attached to portfolio. No paper loss to map.
2. Map of the country embraced within the basin of Upper Red River, explored in 1852 by Captain R. B. Marcy, 5th Infantry, assisted by Brevet Captain George B. McClellan, U. S. Engineers. 17 1/4 x 35 1/2 inches, complete and generally intact, still attached to portfolio, several small splits at folds. Good. Hardcover. [4321]
Howes M276, where he notes the called-for botanical plate #18 was not issued. Graff 2675: "All plates carry the imprint of Ackerman except Palaeontology Plate III (which was issued without title), Zoology Plates IV-IX, and XIV. Geology Plate II was not published, nor was Plate XVIII of Botany." Rader 2346; Sabin 44512. Jenkins 135B.
33d Congress, 1st Session, House of Reps. Executive Document, unnumbered.
"Written by one of the greatest 19th century American explorers, this is one of the most interesting accounts of an original exploration of unknown parts of Texas. Eugune Hollon called it 'the most important exploratory-venture of his career...His chief fame as an explorer would rest upon the successful completion of a task in which so many explorers before him had failed. [It] contains one of the most accurate and lucid descriptions of a portion of the Great Plains...one of the best organized, best conducted, and most successful expeditions that heretofore had ventured into any section of the Great Plains. Its scientific results would prove particularly notable.' Grant Foreman stated it was 'not only the first adequate account of the region explored by him and the Indians he saw there, but...one of the most valuable and interesting descriptions of our western frontier to be found in government annals.'...No American explorer was known to have hitherto explored the headwaters of the Red River; and all known maps were inaccurate...The annexation of Texas, and the consequent necessity of establishing a verified northern border with the Indian territory, made the expedition even more significant...Marcy described in detail the little-known Wichita tribe and compiled the first Wichita dictionary. He ordered all Indians encountered to cease raids into Texas...When the expedition completed its journey, Marcy learned that his whole command had been reported to have been wiped out by Commanches. The whole country thought he was dead, and Marcy said later that 'I had the novel satisfaction of reading...obituary articles upon [my] death.' He and McClellan received heroes' welcomes." - Jenkins, Basic Texas Books.