Lot 71: EMORY, WILLIAM HEMSLEY. 1811-1887. Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, Made under the Direction of the Secretary of the Interior. Washington: A.O.P. Nicholson, 1857-1859.

EMORY, WILLIAM HEMSLEY. 1811-1887.
Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, Made under the Direction of the Secretary of the Interior. Washington: A.O.P. Nicholson, 1857-1859.
2 volumes in 3. 4to (275 x 213 mm). XVI, 258; VIII, 174; 270; 78; [viii], 62; 32, [2]; 35, [1]; 85, [1], II pp. 3 lithographed maps, two of which are large and folding and one of the folding maps hand-colored, a folding geological section, a folding meteorological chart, and 346 plates, 25 of which are hand-colored lithographed plates of birds. Contemporary half morocco over marbled boards, spine lettered in gilt. some toning, occasional foxing or spots, offset from some plates, faint, barely discernible blindstamp to plates, folding maps with stub repair, hinges cracked and/or repaired, repairs to spines and corners.
Provenance: Maurice A. Graves (ownership signatures and stamps); Syracuse University Library (faint blindstamp to each plate).

FIRST EDITION, SENATE ISSUE of what Jenkins considers "one of the most significant of all government reports on western and southern Texas." Emory, a West Point graduate and a decorated veteran of the Mexican-American War, was assigned the position of chief astronomer for determining the official American-Mexican boundary line. He was later appointed United States Boundary Commissioner in 1854, which he served until the task's completion in 1857. Although some have criticized Emory's writing style and the organization of the above work, the scientific content is of considerable importance and includes sections on cartography, geology, paleontology, botany, mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. Carl Wheat considered Emory's cartographic reports the "best specific ... reports" of the area. The large folding map is: "Map of the United States and Their Territories between the Mississippi and the Pacific Ocean and Part of Mexico...." Howes E146; Jenkins Basic Texas Books 57; Sabin 22538; Wagner-Camp 291; Wheat Transmississippi West 916.