THE HISTORY OF OREGON, GEOGRAPHICAL AND POLITICAL: Embracing an Analysis of the Old Spanish Claims, the British Pretensions, the United States Title; an Account of the Present Condition and Character of the Country, and a Thorough Examination of the Project of a National Rail Road from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. To which is added a journal of the events of the celebrated emigrating expedition of 1843, etc.
New York: William H. Colyer, 1845. First edition. (128) pp., folding frontispiece map (in facsimile) octavo, later quarter morocco and marbled boards in matching slipcase. Rebound and with map provided in facsimile, text quite clean and overall a very presentable copy. Item #23576
George Wilkes (1817-1885) was a crusading journalist and for several years publisher of the lurid tabloid National Police Gazette. The text is divided into 2 parts, the first presents a concise history of the Oregon territory and an impassioned argument for the United States to lay claim to the region. Part II of the text contains the first person narrative account of Peter H. Burnett (unnamed) of the 1843 emigration. Burnett later became the first civil governor of California. An Appendix on pp. 114-127 contains the diplomatic correspondence, letters, and treaties between Russia, Spain, Great Britain and the United States relevant to Part I.Graff 4657; Hill p. 326; Howes W418; Sabin 103997; Streeter sale 5: 3143; Wagner-Camp 119:1; Wheat Transmississippi 501. Scarce.
Price: $2,000.00