[ G. K. Warren Copy ] Adventures on the Columbia River, Including the Narrative of a Residence of Six Years on the Western Side of the Rocky Mountains, among Various Tribes of Indians Hitherto Unknown: Together with A Journey Across the American Continent.

Cox

Published by Cox, 1832

About this Item

Cox / 1832 / [ G. K. Warren Copy ] Adventures on the Columbia River, Including the Narrative of a Residence of Six Years on the Western Side of the Rocky Mountains, among Various Tribes of Indians Hitherto Unknown: Together with A Journey Across the American Continent. (Safe 4, 106926) Octavo. Contemporary half morocco and marbled boards, raised bands. Gilt-titled spine, with "Off. Ex.   Sur." at lower spine. Binding extremities a bit rubbed. Typographical label on front cover: "Explorations and Surveys, War Department," with manuscript note: "Engineer Bureau." Small oval ink stamp on title page: "Office Explns.   Surveys, War Department." Scattered foxing. Very occasional pencil marginalia. Else nearly very good. xv,[1],[25]-335 pages. Ownership signature on front pastedown: "G. K. Warren / turned over to off. Ex.   Sur." Ink stamp in fore-edge margin of first page of the preface: "Not United States Government Property." Gouverneur Kemble Warren's Copy of a Key Northwestern Work Ross Cox s Adventures on the Columbia River . . . is a seminal work documenting the early years of the fur trade in the Oregon Country and the nascent stages of settlement in the far West. First published in London in 1831 (in 2 volumes) and then in New York in 1832 (in a single volume), this narrative stands as one of the primary first-hand sources for understanding the rivalry between the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company, as well as the interactions between fur traders and Native American tribes across what is now Montana, Idaho, and eastern Washington. The book is considered essential for its detailed and vivid portrayal of life in the Pacific Northwest during a transformative period in American and Canadian history. The present example bears the signature of western explorer Gouverneur Kemble Warren on the inside cover, noting that it was subsequently given by Warren to the "off. Ex.   Sur." (an abbreviation for the War Department Office of Explorations and Surveys, which was officially established in 1853 and primarily handled the large-scale government surveys of the western territories, including the Pacific Railroad Surveys.). It must be imagined that Warren would have utilized this book during his time on the Raynolds Expeditions between 1855 and 1857 in the Nebraska Territory (which then included Wyoming, Montana and Idaho), before "turning over" the book to the War Department Office of Explorations and Surveys. Cox s narrative is rooted in the complex and often contentious fur trade of the early 19th century, when British and American interests competed for dominance in the Columbia River basin. Arriving in Oregon in 1812 onboard the Beaver from the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii), Cox was initially part of John Jacob Astor s Pacific Fur Company, based at the short-lived trading post of Astoria. After the sale of Astoria to the North West Company during the War of 1812, Cox continued to work for the latter organization, spending the next five years navigating the perilous trade routes between the Columbia River and the Rocky Mountains. The narrative offers invaluable insights into the day-to-day operations of the fur trade, detailing the grueling overland journeys, trading practices, and cultural exchanges with Native American tribes. Cox provides a compelling account of his travels across the rugged terrain from Oregon to Montreal in 1817, including interactions with notable figures like Peter Skene Ogden and encounters with indigenous groups along the Columbia River, Athabasca River, and in the Rocky Mountain House region. The book is particularly noted for its descriptions of the tribes of the Columbia basin and the intricate social dynamics within the fur trade during a time of intense rivalry between the Hudson's Bay and North West Companies. Cox s work is frequently cited alongside the narratives. Seller Inventory # 106926

Bibliographic Details

Title: [ G. K. Warren Copy ] Adventures on the ...

Publisher: Cox

Publication Date: 1832

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: VG

Book Type: Book