Hand-Book to Kansas Territory and the Rocky Mountain Gold Region; Accompanied by Reliable Maps and a Preliminary Treatise on the Pre-Emption Laws of the United States

New York: J. H. Colton, 1859. 16mo. (5 13/16 x 3 11/16 inches). 177pp. Three maps on two folding sheets. [6]pp. of advertisements. Publisher's brown cloth, stamped in gilt and lettered blind. Housed in a modern full red morocco box.

Rare Pike's Peak overland guide, with important maps.

A rare Colorado gold rush guide book with three important maps of the region. The text contains an account of the Kansas region, descriptions of the various routes, information on the gold discoveries in the Rockies, and advice on outfitting a trip to the gold fields. "Pre-emption" laws relate to land claims and are treated in an appendix. The first two maps, on one sheet and both outlined in color, are "Kansas and Nebraska" and "Nebraska and Kanzas. Showing Pikes Peak and the Gold Region." The third map is "Military Map of Parts of Kansas, Nebraska, and Dakota by Lieut. G.K. Warren from Explorations made by him in 1855-57." The second and third maps are particularly significant, showing Denver, Montana, and as far west as Salt Lake. "The authors were correspondents for eastern newspapers. Redpath, a rabid abolitionist, came to Kansas Territory soon after it was established. Hinton came in 1856 as a correspondent for the Boston Traveller" - Dary. Many of the advertisements at the rear are for rail routes to the Pike's Peak gold region. The Eberstadts describe this guide book as the "original 'Pike's Peak or Bust' overland guide."

Dary, Kanzana 74; Eberstadt 137:522; Graff 3437; Hafen, Pike's Peak Gold Rush Guidebooks of 1859, 14; Howes R120, "aa"; Rader 2773; Sabin 68526; Streeter Sale 2131; Wagner-Camp 343; Wheat Transmississippi 995, 996.