Fine Books and Manuscripts

12mo (165 x 99 mm). Engraved title, 19 engraved folding maps (6-in. tear crossing folding map of the United States and 3/4-in. tear to fold, some light browning, spotting or offestting, U3 with short 1-in. tear crossing text.) Contemporary marbled calf, smooth spine gilt, red morocco lettering-piece gilt (one third of lettering-piece torn away, lacking, covers slightly bowed, some light wear). FIRST EDITION of the first Gazetteer of the United States: "When we reflect that no Gazetteer has ever been published of the United states, I may with some degree of justice say, I have trodden an unbeaten path" (introduction). Evans 29476; Howes S237; Sabin 78331.WILLIAM CLARK'S COPY WITH HIS SIGNATUREFrom the collection of William Clark, American explorer, soldier, Territorial Governor of Upper Louisiana, and Governor of the Missouri Territory. Clark, along with Meriwether Lewis, lead the 1804-1806 Lewis and Clark Expedition across the Louisiana Purchase to the Pacific Ocean. He was recruited by Lewis at the age of 33 to share command of the Corps of Discovery, whose mission was to establish trade with Native Americans and explore territory acquired in the Louisiana Purchase. Clark was chiefly responsible for leading hunting expeditions and drawing maps. He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1814.