Travel & Exploration - 73 - Bauman Rare Books 1829 First Edition Of Milbert’s Landmark Hudson River Atlas In Elephant Folio, With 54 Beautiful Lithograph Views And Double-Page Hand-Colored Map 70. MILBERT, Jacques-Gerard. Itineraire Pittoresque du Fleuve Hudson et des parties laterales de l’Amerique du Nord. Paris, 1829. Folio (21 3/4 by 14 1/4 inches), original three-quarter diced red calf. $16,800. First edition of this outstanding series of American views, which “constitute a unique and valuable record” (Sherman) of the natural splendors to be seen along the Hudson River, in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and at Niagara Falls, with lithographed title page, 54 lovely lithographed views, and large double-page handcolored map. “The painter Milbert set out for the United States in 1815 as a correspondent of theMuseumof Natural History in Paris. He remained for seven years, sending back to France almost 8000 specimens of American flora and fauna. He also brought home many sketches from which… lithographs for his book were made by such artists as Adam, Bichebois, Sabatier, and Villeneuve. For the most part they are views of the Hudson river and the towns along its course, though other northeastern states receive some attention… It is clear, however, that the three views of Niagara Falls (plates 34 to 36) were the successes of the series” (Ray, 110). The hand-colored double-page map includes the northeastern United States from Ohio east to Maine and from Virginia north to the Great Lakes, as well as a significant portion of Canada; an inset depicts the Hudson River region. The 54 lithograph plates include one unnumbered plate, often lacking. Atlas volume only, without the two French-language text volumes. Howes M592 “c”; Sabin 48916. Plates and map clean and bright, occasional light marginal foxing not affecting plates; edges of contemporary binding with light expert restoration. Beautiful, important, and scarce.
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