Reports of Exploration and Surveys, to Ascertain the Most Practicable and Economical Route for a Railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean (Vil. XII Book !)

Large thick 4to, contemporary calf spine and tips with marbled boards, 70 very attractive color lithograph plates, 358, [41] pp. Extremeties worn, minor aging, one map has tear in lower corner, plates bright and clean. The Pacific Railroad Surveys (1853-1855) explored possible routes for a transcontinental railroad. However, the surveys went beyond looking for a place for a railroad, they included and incredible amount of information on natural history and the peoples that inhabited the areas where the surveys explored. Representing the first part of the final volume of these surveys, this installment focused on the northern route for a railroad. The 12 volumes included in these surveys is also known for rich illustrations, many of which were in color. With 70 color plates (one folding) and three folding maps in Volume XII (part 1), this edition is particularly rich in illustration, and the plates are bright and clean.