EMORY, William H. (1811-1887). Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, made under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior. Washington: Cornelius Wendell, 1857, 1859.
2 volumes bound in 3, 4to. 3 folding maps and charts (including one hand-colored), folding profile, folding chart, numerous plates, including 25 hand-colored lithographed plates of bird specimens by Spencer Baird, and several color lithograph plates of Native Americans and areas explored. (Spotting and browning to plates as usual, some offsetting to text.) Modern half navy morocco gilt, marbled boards. Provenance: John P. Hale (1806-1873), American politician (gift inscription to:); Minnie C. Hamilton.
FIRST EDITION, Senate issue, of what is considered “one of the most significant of all government reports on western and southern Texas” (Jenkins). Emory was tasked with determining the official American-Mexican boundary line, which still remains largely unchanged 150 years after his original survey, which is considered one of the most important surveys ever conducted. “This extensive report is the foundation work on the exploration and mapping of the United States-Mexico border” (Reese).
JOHN P. HALE'S COPY, presented to his "sincere friend." Hale served in the United States House of Representatives from 1843 to 1845 and in the Senate from 1847 to 1853 and again from 1855 to 1865. In 1865, he accepted an appointment from President Abraham Lincoln to serve as the Minister to Spain. Hale's daughter, Lucy, was briefly courted by Robert Todd Lincoln and at the time of Lincoln's assassination was engaged to John Wilkes Booth. Howes E-146; Hill 562; Jenkins 57; Reese, Best of the West 150; Wagner-Camp 291; Wheat, Transmississippi 822-826.
This lot is located in Chicago.
