Report upon Geographical and Geological Explorations and Surveys west of the One Hundredth Meridian. Parts I,II,III,IV,V, Vol. III.-Geology.

WHEELER, George M. (1842-1905) - HUMPHREYS, Brigadier General A.A.

Published by Washington: Government Printing Office, 1875.

About this Item

4to., (11 4/8 x 9 2/8 inches). Heliotype frontispiece and 6 plates, 6 tinted lithographs including one folding (some marginal spotting throughout). Original grey paper wrappers, printed on the spine (worn with loss to the backstrip). Provenance: Presentation copy from Lieut. George M. Wheeler, with his compliments slip tipped-in to the inside front wrapper; probably to Lieut. Charles William Whipple (1846-1916), son of the explorer Amiel Weeks Whipple (1818 - 1863), his sale his sale Doyle New York, 23rd April 2012, lot 115. First edition of Volume III of an eventual seven. Following the famous 1871 survey of California, Nevada, and Arizona, the first survey after the Civil War in the tradition of the former Corps of Topographical Engineers, Wheeler developed a "comprehensive plan to map west of the 100th meridian, "the main object of this exploration to obtain correct topographical knowledge of the country traversed." Officially designated the U.S. Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian, the "Wheeler Survey" became one of four great federal surveys after the Civil War. While Clarence King was just completing his 1867-1872 fieldwork for the chief of engineers, Interior Department surveys under Ferdinand V. Hayden and Powell remained active. The other surveys had no military presence, but army officers commanded Wheeler's parties and performed much of the astronomy required for detailed surveying. Civilian topographers performed most mapping for Wheeler, and civilian scientists did pioneering studies in geology, botany, paleontology, and archaeology. Topographic emphasis also differentiated Wheeler from the other surveys' concentration on geology" (Peter L. Guth for ANB).

Seller Inventory # 72lib823

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Report upon Geographical and Geological Explorations and Surveys west of the One Hundredth Meridian. Parts I,II,III,IV,V, Vol. III.-Geology.
• Publisher: Washington: Government Printing Office, 1875.
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • Western Americana
  • Nevada