Lot 147: WARRE, Henry James, Sir (1819-1898). Sketches in North America and the Oregon Territory.

WARRE, Henry James, Sir (1819-1898). Sketches in North America and the Oregon Territory. [London:] Lithographed, Printed & Published by Dickinson & Co., [1848].

Broadsheets (535 x 360 mm). Title-page, rare dedication leaf to the Hudson Bay Company, and three text leaves. 20 hand-colored lithographic views on 16 plates, one lithographed map colored in outline (some occasional spotting, map with repair along outer margin not affecting image). Contemporary half calf over gray-green cloth, gilt-lettered on front cover (some wear and rubbing, staining to front cover, small splits along front joint at spine ends, tail of spine chipped).

FIRST EDITION, COLORED ISSUE, OF WARRE'S STUNNING VIEWS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. With uneasy governance of the Oregon Territory by Great Britain and the United States and with the possibility of war looming, Warre, along with Lieutenant MerwinVavasour, was sent by the British government in 1845 on an exploratory tour of the region disguised as gentlemen of leisure. By the time Warre returned to England, though, the dispute had been settled, so he turned his numerous drawings and notes into this magnificent work that includes "…."the only western color plates comparable in beauty to those by Bodmer" (Howes).The outline map in this copy includes a manuscript note added in lower margin explaining that the red line shows the pair's outward journey, and the blue line the homeward journey. Howes W114; Sabin 101455; Wagner-Camp 157.