Pacific Railroad Surveys
From: "Kevin Bill" kbill@ktmautomation.com, kbill2@mc.net
After cleaning out "Mother's attic," I have in my possession a copy of what seems to be Volume 4 of Lieutenant A.W. Whipple's Corp of Topographical Engineers report to the 33rd congress dated 1856. It contains many botanical illustrations as well as astronomical and climatological observations.
I ... would appreciate any information on this book and if many copies still exist.
—Kevin S. Bill
posted from CPRR Discussion Group at 11:00 PM
11 Comments:
See information about the Pacific Railroad Surveys.
These volumes are rare, but are not difficult to find. There is considerable variation in pricing. Take a look at volumes currently offered for sale to get a general idea of pricing.
From: 19truck90@gmail.com
Subject: Pacific Railroad Surveys
US Pacific Railroad Surveys - Have the illustrations ever been legitimately reproduced for sale to the public? I think these works of art are quite beautiful, but I fear those for sale online are either fake – or worse – ripped from books. I'm most interested in those of Colorado – Sangre de Cristo and Spanish Peaks. I grew up in the shadow of these mountains and no art I've seen catch these mountains like the artists of the Pacific Railroad Surveys. Any place to purchase legitimately? ...
—Nancy Brown, Denver
Seems that all of the original illustrations were published as pages of the mid 19th century volumes which are often available for sale.
From: 19truck90@gmail.com
Thank you for your prompt reply. As a writer, I hate to see books ripped apart for their illustrations. I hope whoever owns the rights to the lithographs will reproduce them someday to enlighten this technological world about the adventure of uniting this country by rail. If ever that happens, I'll be first of many in line. Thanks again.
Can't imagine that there is much of a demand for reproductions when the originals can be collected, but if you feel strongly about the need for reproducing these lovely historic lithographs, why don't you take this on as your own personal project?
From: "Jim Jeffery" jimsjunque@me.com
Wow what a resource you are and I’m sure you will appreciate this ‘correction’. I have a person copy of the Vol V Pacific RR Survey that you quote for the source of this document. The date on mine and still in the volume is 1855. Now I also have out of the book an 1853, which one has to be VERY CAREFUL to read as the ‘the second five (not)’ is a three. I can compare them side by side. Please check your bound hard copy and let me know what you think. Glad to help clarify this. Please see attached 1853 :) ...
—Jim Jeffery
https://sites.google.com/a/umn.edu/the-pacific-railroad-surveys-1853---1854/about-this-site
Geological Map of a part of the State of California Explored in 1853 by Lieut. R. S. Williamson U. S. Top. Engr. Prepared to accompany the report of William P. Blake Geologist of the Expedition. From Volume V of the Pacific Railroad Surveys, [1855]. Delicate hand-coloring and patterns on this 22" x 16" lithographic map define the various geological regions of the state, primarily in the region from just northeast of San Francisco south to San Diego. Courtesy Andrea Woolfolk, Elkhorn Slough Foundation and, Steve Armistead, Deja View Antique Maps and Prints .
That Volume V map's caption on the CPRR Museum page says both "1853" which matches what is shown on your image, but also says "From Volume V of the Pacific Railroad Surveys, [1855]." Not having access to the physical volume from which whoever wrote that quoted caption determined "1855" it is hard to be sure. Those Pacific Railroad Surveys were published at least three times, in a physically smaller early set, and later in the larger size volumes by both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. So their Volume V could have been published in a later year than an included 1853 map.
DIARY OF A JOURNEY FROM THE MISSISSIPPI TO THE COASTS OF THE PACIFIC WITH A UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT EXPEDITION.
Möllhausen, Heinrich Baldwin: [First English Edition of the Author's Most Important Work]
London. 1858. Two volumes. [iii]-xxx,[2],352; x,[2],397,[1]pp., including in-text illustrations, plus nineteen total plates (including two frontispieces), seven of which are chromolithographs and four of which are tinted. Folding map. ...
The first English edition, translated by Mrs. Percy Sinnet, with an introduction by Alexander von Humboldt, of one of the most important accounts of the American West. "...One of the best travel books of [the] age" - Goetzmann. Möllhausen accompanied Whipple's expedition to survey a route to the Pacific, serving as the party's naturalist and artist. The text is devoted largely to excellent descriptions of Indian life and aboriginal antiquities, with additional material on the expeditions of Col. Fremont. The handsome chromolithographed plates depict the landscape and natives of the areas traversed. The map illustrates the route of the party from Fort Smith up the Canadian River, across northern Arizona and New Mexico to Los Angeles. "The map is beautifully drawn and engraved....It is a highly important and decorative map" - Wheat.
... Goetzmann, ARMY EXPLORATION, p.310. GRAFF 2849. FIELD 1080 MINTZ 582. SABIN 49915. WHEAT GOLD REGIONS 268. HOWES M713. ABBEY 661. WAGNER-CAMP 305:2. STREETER SALE 3134. WHEAT TRANSMISSISSIPPI 956. REESE, BEST OF THE WEST 151 (note).
Courtesy williamreesecompany.com
From: Roger Mooney 'rmooney@vasey.com'
I have “Volume X” of “Reports Explorations and Surveys”, Mississippi River to Pacific Ocean, best route for a railroad.
What should I do with it?? Lol
I assume it has some monetary value along with the obvious historical value?
I do not know where to start!! ...
—Roger Mooney
The best way to get an idea of monetary value is to find comparable items. Suggest that you search on bookfinder.com and for completed sales in the advanced search on eBay.com (keep looking over time if you don't immediately find comparable sales for a rare item). One bookstore that has sold Pacific Railroad Survey books is Buckingham Books.
From: 'Jim Jeffery' jimsjunque@me.com
Subject: Re: Research Pacific RR Surveys
... Omaha to SF Route book mentioned twice does that mean that there was the original (what 1913, I have) and a later version?
Also, do you have/have you heard of "Memoir to accompany the map of the territory of the United States from the Mississippi river to the Pacific Ocean: giving a brief account of each of the exploring expeditions since a.d. 1800, with a detailed description of the method adopted in compiling the general map” by G. K. Warren ...
–Jim Jeffery
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