Mapping the Transmississippi West 1540-1861

San Francisco, 1957-1963: The Institute of Historical Cartography and Grabbhorn Press. First Edition. Folio. Five volumes in six. Limited to 1000 copies designed and printed by Edwin and Robert Grabbhorn. Each volume has an alphabetical index of maps arranged by the map makers name, date, number and page on which it appears and a bibliography. Volume five part two will contain the listing for both parts. The Institute deemed itself fortunate to be able to present, as its initial publication, this monumental work by one of the West's better-known writers on historical subjects, Carl I. Wheat. The set is magnificently printed and handsomely illustrated (in color and in black and white) with beautifully rendered maps in reproduction, some folding. A very handsome and important work bound in 1/4 green cloth over beige cloth, spine lettering gilt, each in their original plain dust jackets. The dust jackets had been lettered very neatly on the spine of the jackets with the titles making it easier for the previous owner to locate on the bookshelf. no names. bookplates or bumps, dust jackets are fine to near fine. Each set was registered during the purchase of the first volume. This set comes with the original prospectus evidently sent to the previous owner by a bookseller in the of publication (1957). This would have been a remarkably fresh set save for a news article found laid in on the page showing the California map which left off setting. The article pertained to Wheat's third volume which listed for the first time, a map showing San Francisco. The article is now inside a clear sleeve. An exceedingly nice, worthwhile set.