U.S. Pacific R.R. Surveys

Very Good. Hardcover. This book contains 97 plates from the Pacific Railroad Reports of 1855 - 1861. Brown leather boards with decorative gilt border and title; all edges red; all plates have protective leaf. Title on spine reads: U. S. Pacific R. R. Surveys. Includes 69 color plates from the "U. S. P. R. R. Exp. & Surveys 47 & 49 Parallels - General Report" and 28 color plates from the "U. S. P. R. R. Exp. & Surveys - Birds." "J. Bien, N. Y. Lith." on all plates from the General Report, and "Bowen & Co. , Lith. & Col. Philada." on a few of the Bird plates. No other publication information given. Boards have moderate chipping to edges; gutters are cracked; some plates have light to moderate toning or foxing but most have little wear or soiling; light offsetting to opposing leaves of plates. Plates from the General Report are numbered I-LXX, with plate LVIII not included; and plates from Birds numbered II-XIX, XXVIII-XXXVIII, with plates numbers I, XXIX, XXXIV not included. Funded by Congress in March 1853 and organized by the War Department into six parties, this historic expedition was sent to survey four main routes that were under consideration for the ultimate route of a transcontinental railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. All parties were to gather data relating to the natural history, local resources, climate, meteorology, geology, botany, zoology, and paleontology; as well as statistics on Native American tribes living along the various routes. The published report was profusely illustrated with maps and colored lithographed plates, some of which were compiled here. A beautiful sampling of the expedition's efforts. Image depicts one of the plates. ; Color Plates; 8vo 8" - 9" tall .