COMMERCE ON THE PRAIRIES: OR THE JOURNAL OF A SANTA FE TRADER, DURING EIGHT EXPEDITIONS ACROSS THE GREAT WESTERN PRAIRIES, AND A RESIDENCE OF NEARLY NINE YEARS IN NORTHERN MEXICO (2 VOLUMES); (with "A [Facsimile] Map of The Indian Territory Northern Texas and New Mexico Showing the Great Western Prairies by Josiah Gregg"

New York: Henry J. Langley, 1844. First Printing (Vol. I); Second issue (Vol II). Hardcover. Good. NOTE: Mixed Set with One Reproduction map, "A Map of The Indian Territory Northern Texas and Mexico": which is a foldout map mounted at the rear of Volume I, appears to be a carefully reproduced facsimile. The second map, an original, is mounted opposite the first page of actual text, and is entitled "Map of The Interior of Northern Mexico".

Octavos. 7 5/8 in. x 4 1/2 in. Mixed Set. Vol. I first issue, Green cloth boards, embossed in blind, with gilt vignette horse and rider to front, and gilt lettering to spine, and vignette of a Native American with drawn bow and arrow nocked. Shelfwear and rubbing to extremities, bumped and showing corners to Volume I.

Vol. II is the second issue, in brown cloth stamped in blind, with both NY and London Imprints on titlepage. Shelfwear and lighter (than volume I) rubbing to extremities with several very small splits to cloth (1/2 in. and 1/4 in.) along outer edge of front joint. From darkened patch near foot of spine, appears that this once belonged to a library, but most likely private, as no markings appear inside the book.

Age tanning and occasional light spotting to text, but in both volumes textblocks are generally very bright and readable.

MAPS:The Folding Map, a reproduction FACSIMILE, mounted at the rear of Volume I, is in lovely condition.


J. Frank Dobie called Gregg's two-volume set: "...one of the classics of bedrock Americana." "...Gregg was a Santa Fe trader, and ...The Commerce of the Prairies...' is by far the most important book to be printed on the Southwest up to this date... in the first of which was published 'A Map of the Indian Territory Northern Texas and New Mexico showing the Great Western Prairies by Josiah Gregg'...Gregg's map was a cartographic landmark...one of the most useful of this region at this day. ...From all viewpoints Gregg's map was an outstanding achievement..." (Wheat, Transmississippi 482).