Lewis, Meriwether, 1774-1809 History of the Expedition... [1st Ed. in original boards; Paul Allen, compiler]

Full title: "History of the expedition under the command of Captains Lewis and Clark, to the sources of the Missouri, thence across the Rocky Mountains and down the river Columbia to the Pacific Ocean. Performed during the years 1804-5-6. By order of the Government of the United States. Prepared for the press by Paul Allen, Esquire." Original boards for each volume. Published by Bradford and Inskeep. (Lewis died before he finished editing the Journals, which were completed by Nicholas Biddle in 1812, but the printer, Conrad, failed and other printers refused publication. Bradford & Innskeep agreed to publication, but became insolvent also thus most copies lack some plates.) The first edition of the most famous of all western travel narratives. Described by Wagner-Camp as "the definitive account of the most important exploration of the North American continent," this work finally appeared in print nearly eight years after the journey's completion, with the initial help of Nicholas Biddle, and ultimately under the editorship of Paul Allen. Wagner-Camp 13:1, PMM 272, Grolier American Hundred 30, Howes L317, Graff 2477, Tweney 89, 44, Sabin 40828, Church 1309, Field 928, Streeter sale 3: 1777, Streeter, Americana Beginnings 52, Shaw & Shoemaker 31024.