Route Across the Rocky Mountains, With A Description of Oregon and

1846. JOHNSON, OVERTON, and William H. WINTER. Route Across the Rocky Mountains, With A Description of Oregon and California; Their Geographical Features, Their Resources, Soil, Climate, Productions.... Lafayette, In.: John B. Semans, Printer, 1846. 152pp. Original half cloth and plain paper boards, evidence of a paper spine label. Boards edgeworn and rubbed. Scattered foxing. Overall, very good, in original condition. In a cloth chemise and half morocco and cloth slipcase, spine gilt. GRAFF 2221. HOWES J142, "d." SABIN 36260. STREETER SALE 3145. WAGNER-CAMP 122. COWAN, p.315. One of the earliest and rarest of overland guide books to the Oregon Trail, chronologically the second such guide, preceded only by the Hastings guide of 1845. The authors went overland to Oregon in 1843. Winter went to California the following year, then returned to Indiana, where he arranged to publish this guidebook in time for the 1846 emigrant season. The guide provides a detailed account of the 1843 trip, a long description of Oregon, Winter's route to California, the Bear Flag movement, gold at Santa Barbara, and of northern California. The return route from California is also described, and there is a table of distances in the rear. Winter eventually settled in the Napa-Sonoma area. This is the issue with corrected text on pages 26 and 36. A rarity, afforded a "d" by Howes, who calls it "one of the greatest of early overland narratives." A key guide and important work of Western Americana.