L. W. Currey, Inc.

Parker, Samuel. JOURNAL OF AN EXPLORING TOUR BEYOND THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS, IN THE YEARS 1835, '36, AND '37; CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION OF GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, CLIMATE, PRODUCTIONS OF THE COUNTRY, AND THE NUMBER, MANNERS, AND CUSTOMS OF THE NATIVES: WITH A MAP OF OREGON TERRITORY. By Rev. Samuel Parker, A. M. Second Edition. Ithaca, N. Y. Published by the Author. Mack, Andrus, & Woodruff, Printers, 1840. 19x11.6 cm (12mo), pp. [i-iii] iv [v] vi-viii [ix-x]] xii-xvi [17] 18-400, folded map of the Oregon Territory, 1 inserted plate ("Basaltic Formation on the Columbia River"), publisher's green vertically ribbed cloth decorated in blind with spine panel titled in gold. Second edition, revised. Samuel Parker (1779-1866), Congregational clergyman, missionary, explored Washington and Oregon in 1835-1836 and produced the earliest reliable map of the Oregon Territory. In May 1835 Parker, commissioned by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and his associate, Marcus Whitman, joined the annual caravan of the American Fur Company at Liberty, Mo., with whom they traveled to the rendezvous on the Green River. "Finding the Flatheads and Nez Percés assembled there eager for missionaries, Parker went forward alone, under their escort, while Whitman returned to the East with the trading caravan to organize a mission party. Parker spent the winter of 1835-1836 at Fort Vancouver. He then explored the interior, selecting sites for proposed mission stations, and in September, before the arrival of Whitman's party, sailed to the Hawaiian Islands and thence, on a whaler, around the Horn. He reached New London in May 1837 ... The following year his book JOURNAL OF AN EXPLORING TOUR BEYOND THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS was published at Ithaca ... Parker seems to have been vigorous, but dogmatic and somewhat arrogant, ill-fitted to conciliate men's opposition or to gain their eager cooperation. He displayed good judgment of the Indian character, however, and wisdom in the selection of sites for missionary labors among the tribes. His Yankee shrewdness also guided him in estimating the agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing possibilities of the Oregon country" (DAB). "'A leading object of this Exploration,' the author announces in his preface, 'was to become acquainted with the situation of the remote Indian tribes, and their disposition in regard to teachers of Christianity.' This part of the duties was exceedingly well performed by an intelligent and discriminating man. The author's personal experience among the nomads of the plains, the root-diggers of the mountains, and the fish-eaters of the western slope, is given with sufficient detail to attract our interest, and with such evident adherence to fidelity of narration as to acquire our confidence and belief. In all the qualities which a historian would require, it has few equals." (Field). The best edition, the "whole work ... attentively revised and corrected" and "some parts ... enlarged, others ... abridged" (preface to the second edition). Becker, Wagner, Camp 70:2. Field, p. 301. Graff 3192. Howes P 89. Sabin 58729. Smith 7893. Streeter 2093. Early gift inscription on the front free endpaper. Cloth rubbed at lower spine end and corner tips, mild wear with shallow loss at corners of upper spine end, scattered foxing throughout (less than usually found), folded map laid in, an attractive, very good copy. (#174293).

Price: $2,500.00