Handbook to Kansas Territory and the Rocky Mountains' Gold Region; Accompanied by Reliable Maps and a Preliminary Treatise on the Pre-emption Laws of the United States by REDPATH, James and Richard J. HINTON

New York: J.H. Colton, 1859. 12mo., (6 x 4 inches). Preliminary publisher's advertisement leaf and 4 leaves publisher's advertisements at end. Folding hand-colored engraved dual map of Nebraska and Kansas by Colton (sheet size, 29 x 18 inches) and folding engraved military map of Kansas ((17 2/8 x 30 4/8 inches to the neat line) (military map with a few short separations and some pale spotting along folds). Publisher's brown blind-stamped cloth, gilt-lettered on upper cover (slightly faded); brown quarter morocco slipcase and chemise. Provenance: with the bookplate of Jay T. Snider on the inside of the chemise, his sale "Collection of Historical Americana" 21st June 2005, lot 293. First edition, and a FINE AND ATTRACTIVE COPY. The first part is a handbook on Kansas Territory, probably written before the discovery of gold. The second part comprises an appendix that also is directed to the settler and to preemption laws on public lands. The hand-colored dual map depicts "Kansas and Nebraska" and "Nebraska and Kanzas showing Pikes Peak and the Gold Region". The second (on the same sheet as the first) and third maps are particularly significant, showing Denver, Montana and as far west as Salt Lake. Many of the advertisements at end are for rail routes to the Pike's Peak gold region. "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 Kanzana 74). The handbook provides a good overview of Kansas: informing the reader on how to get there; and what supplies to bring. There is a broad description of natural resources and individual chapters on towns such as Leavenworth and Topeka. The second part of the book features the gold regions of the Rocky Mountains, reflecting the current Colorado Gold Rush, 1858-1861. In July of 1858 a party lead by William Russell prospected 622 grams of gold in the present day Denver suburb of Englewood. When news reached east of this discovery the gold rush began in earnest. Approximately 100,000 people went west to participate in the gold rush under the motto "Pikes Peak or Bust!". The gold rush meant the entry of the first substantial European American population in this area. "In 1855 Redpath moved to Kansas Territory, where he reported on events for the 'St. Louis Missouri Democrat', the 'Chicago Tribune', the 'New York Tribune', and other northern papers. In 1857 he briefly edited his own newspaper, the 'Doniphan (Kans.) Crusader of Freedom'. During these years, Redpath became a close associate of John Brown in the campaign to make Kansas Territory a free state. In 1858 Brown encouraged Redpath to move to Boston to help rally support for Brown's plan to incite a southern slave insurrection. After the failure of Brown's attack at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, Redpath participated in unsuccessful efforts to rescue captured raiders. Soon after, Redpath wrote the first biography of the executed abolitionist, 'The Public Life of Capt. John Brown' (1860). This work was uncompromisingly sympathetic toward its subject and helped secure for Brown a lasting reputation as a martyr for freedom" (John R. McKivigan for ANB)..