Books

Two volumes, octavo, with three coloured maps (two folding), four coloured plans, a coloured chart, 20 "chromoxylograph" plates, and numerous woodcuts; complete with half-titles; in a fine contemporary binding by Bickers and Sons, London, of full pale calf, sides bordered in gilt, spines gilt in compartments between raised bands with double labels, marbled endpapers and edges. First edition of the outstanding narrative by Professor Hind of his investigations of the country between Lake Superior and the Rocky Mountains, during a government-funded exploration seeking a land corridor to the British Columbia goldfields and looking at the possibility of a railroad to reach the Pacific coast. "During this exploration, Mr. Hind lived almost constantly among the Crees and Chippeways, whose habits and peculiarities he was most eager to study, and prompt to record. Everything in their life had not only the charm of novelty to him, but as a man of science, he was anxious to observe all the facts which may prove stepping-stones in tracing their origin and their history" (Field). The striking suite of twenty chromoxylographic plates are based partly on sketches by John Fleming, assistant surveyor and draughtsman, and partly on the notably early photographs taken by Humphrey Lloyd Hime, photographer to the expedition. . Provenance: C. James Cotes (with florid inscription by Henry Foljambe dated 1865 presenting the books to him on leaving Eton); David Steedman (bookseller in Newcastle upon Tyne, with his distinctive collational and descriptive notes in pencil on flyleaf).