[WESTERN AMERICANA]. Twelfth Annual Report of the United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories: A Report of Progress of the Exploration in Wyoming and Idaho for the Year 1878. In Two Parts. [COMPLETE SET] by Hayden, F.V - 1883

Washington DC: Government Printing Office, 1883. First Edition. Very good. Two vols., large 8vo. Vol. I: Frontispiece of Pike's Peak with tissue guard, xviii, 39 [1 blank], [17], 42-48, [3], 50-103 [1 blank], [23], 106-118, [5], 120-141, [10], 144-153, [6], 157-171, [10], 174-293 [4], 296-809 [1 blank] pp. With 114 figures in the text, 49 b/w plates and maps (some folding), 95 tinted lithographs, chromolithograph frontispiece and 6 chromolithographs not called for in the List of Illustrations, and 3 large folding maps. Vol. II: xxv, [2], 454, [3], 456-503 [1 blank] pp. Chromolithograph frontispiece, and 4 chromolithographs, 32 figures in the text, 60 tinted lithographs, 3 b/w lithographs, 37 b/w plates and maps (some folding), 11 additional maps (folding) plus one not called for in the list of Illustrations bound in at end. Original publisher's brown cloth, expertly repaired, unimportant stain at the foot of spine (vol. II). The gigantic maps have short tears where conjoined to the text-block (see images). No stamps or ugly markings of any kind. IN VERY FRESH STATE, with most tissue guards present, and entirely free from all foxing and browning which afflicts many copies. NOT ex-library!

A REMARKABLY CLEAN COPY OF THIS MONUMENTAL PUBLICATION, LAVISHLY ILLUSTRATED, AND CONTAINING AUTHORITATIVE SCHOLARLY STUDIES. That the diminutive word "Report" appears in the title, and "Government Printing Office" in the imprint, should not in any way belittle the EPIC nature of the contents, with hundreds of illustrations, panoramas, diagrams, maps, and breathtaking color lithographs. Of special interest are the sensitive renderings of the Colorado mountains, and geysers of Yellowstone, and much more. The first volume contains valuable scholarly papers on geology and paleontology, while second volume is devoted entirely to the Yellowstone region, with an exhaustive treatise on its Thermal Springs by A.C. Peale.

Virtually every copy that is currently on the market -- or that has been on the market during the last 20 years -- is either in shabby condition; ex-library; and/or rebound. Our copy belongs in none of these sad categories.

There was a separately published portfolio, entitled "Maps and Panoramas," not present here, which contained 10 maps. Our copy does not contain the 5 maps described as being "in the accompanying pocket" of vol. I, but bound in opposite p. [270] is a very large "Drainage Map Showing Portions of Wyoming, Idaho and Utah" not called for in the List of Illustrations; this Lists calls for is a Plate XXXII ("Panoramic Views of the Park") in vol. II, not present here, but the unnumbered "Geologic Map of the Park (in the accompanying Pocket)" is bound opposite p. [62].

Due to the bibliographic complexity of the collation of this work, almost every collation seen by us varies (drastically in some cases); indeed many (most?) booksellers and bibliographers do not even attempt to undertake one. Therefore, with our copy we are providing ANNOTATED printed Lists of Illustrations, on which are indicated all the plates, maps, panoramas and text figures that are present herein. Be assured that the accompanying printed Lists can be relied on for exactitude.

Hasse, Reports of Explorations Printed in the Documents of the United States Government, p. 81. Schmeckebier, Hayden, King, Powell, and Wheeler Surveys, p. 19-20.