WITH LARGE MAP OF THE FULL LENGTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, 1828

BELTRAMI, J.C. A Pilgrimage in Europe and America, Leading to the Discovery of the Sources of the Mississippi and Bloody River; with a Description of the Whole Course of the Former, and of the Ohio. London: Hunt and Clarke, 1828. Two volumes. Octavo, contemporary three-quarter brown calf gilt, brown morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt. $2000.

First edition in English of Beltrami’s La Decouverte des Sources du Mississippi, with engraved frontispiece portrait, a large folding map of the length of the Mississippi River (appearing in this edition for the first time), two engraved folding plans and three engraved plates of Indian ornaments.

Originally published in an 1824 New Orleans edition in French, this edition in English is enlarged from the French edition and for the first time includes the folding map. Beltrami undertook his journey in a quest for the sources of the Mississippi. After reaching the upper reaches of its head, he joined the expedition of Major Stephen Long and traveled with him to New Orleans. The first volume chronicles the Italian explorer's adventures in Europe and the second volume translates from the original French his travels in America. The folding map, which was included in this edition in response to its lack in the French edition, illustrates the routes traveled in America and details Beltrami's view of the geography of the Mississippi. The second volume "gives some novel particulars" of the Northwestern Indians, including the Chippewa and Sioux, among whom Beltrami moved (Field 111). Howes B338. Sabin 4605. Owner stamps, with occasional colored pencil underlinings.

Frontispiece and "Schwetzingen" plan in Volume I reinforced. Map about-fine, with only two tiny closed tears. Ex-libris stamps in Volume II. Underlining and marginal notes in colored pencil in preface of Volume I and throughout Volume II. A bit of wear to contemporary calf. Extremely good condition.