POWELL, John Wesley (1834-1902). Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries. Explored in 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872, under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Washington, D. C.: Government Printing Office, 1875. 4to (293 x 226 mm). 2 folding route maps loosely inserted at end (a few short tears to folds with old tape repairs on verso), frontispiece, numerous illustrations. Publisher's tan cloth decorated in gilt and blind (minor damage to rear pastedown along gutter). Provenance: William C. Fackler (signatures and rubber stamps from The School of Mines, University of Alaska" to folding maps). FIRST EDITION of Powell's report, an historic description of the first documented trip down the Colorado River. In 1869, Powell set out from the Green River with ten men and four boats, three of which had been specially built in Chicago, and were 21 feet in length, double-ended and decked over. They withstood going bow-first over rapids and falls, and in three months Powell and his men covered 1,000 miles, emerging from the Canyon at Callville. Graff 3336; Howes P-528.