Fremont, Brevet Captain J.C. - Narrative of the Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, in the Year 1842 - 1846

Foundational work in the history of American exploration

Fremont, Brevet Captain J.C.
Narrative of the Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, in the Year 1842, and to Oregon and North California, in the Years 1843-44
London, Wiley and Putnam, 1846 [First British edition]

8vo (20.5x13.5); 324 pp. Illustrated with 1 color frontispiece, 3 b/w engravings and 1 facsimile map. Tide tables at rear. Rebound in half leather over paterned boards, leather label with gilt title on spine.

Condition: Very poor and reading copy only. Exterior good, but pages trimmed and some badly restored with text missing. Some library stamps, markings and annotations. Frontispiece - original but probably from another copy - inserted between endpapers. This book was ruined by a zealous amateur, but nevertheless a rare title.

Significant historical document that offers a detailed account of the early exploration of the American West. Fremont, a U.S. Army officer and explorer, led expeditions into the western territories of the United States at a time when these regions were largely uncharted by Europeans. The narrative describes Fremont’s expeditions through the Rocky Mountains, Oregon, and Northern California. It provides insights into the challenges of navigating and mapping these remote areas. Fremont’s detailed observations on the geography, flora, and fauna of the region contribute to the understanding of the American West before extensive settlement. His maps and reports were crucial for the eventual westward expansion of the U.S.