Journal of the Voyages and Travels of A Corps of Discovery, Under the

1811. GASS, Patrick. Journal of the Voyages and Travels of A Corps of Discovery, Under the Cpommand of Capt. Lewis and Capt. Clarke[sic]...During the Years 1804, 1805, and 1806....Philadelphia: Printed for Matthew Carey, 1811. 262pp. plus six plates including frontispiece. Contemporary calf, spine label. Boards and spine worn slightly, hinges expertly repaired. Remnants of red wax on front and rear pastedowns (perhaps originally used to secure paper wrapper for binding?). Mid-19th- century ownership inscription of Joseph E. Smith, 1847, on front free endpaper, additional ink inscription on front pastedown. Slight agetoning and soiling. A good copy. SABIN 26741. SHAW & SHOEMAKER 22891. WAGNER-CAMP 6:6. HOWES G77. GRAFF 1520. LITERATURE OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION 3.6. Third American edition, after the first of 1807, of the first published first-hand account of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The illustrations, first published by Matthew Carey in an edition issued in two states the previous year, are evidently based on the observations of a member of the party, and are the only extant illustrations of the famous journey. Gass was a sergeant who was charged, by order of Lewis and at the insistence of Jefferson, with keeping a journal, and this book seems closely based on that document. "One of the essential books for an Americana collection" - Streeter, describing the first edition. This edition, based on the experience of several veteran dealers, is the rarest.