Item 218 is the oddly titled A Descriptive Hand-Book of the Great American Overland Route between Europe and Australia. China, Japan and India… Say what? Didn’t the land bridge melt some 10,000-plus years ago? This book is worth the price just to discover the overland route from Europe to Australia or Japan. Here’s a hint. The Erie Railway Company, which published this item, cheated. You’re supposed to take a steamship from Europe to New York, and another from San Francisco to Asia or Australia, while using the Erie and Pacific Railroads in-between. Item 218 from 1876. $350.

Collectors of President William Henry Harrison, he of the 30-day presidency, will be happy to find a copy of this not prolific writer’s main work, A Discourse of the Aborigines of the Valley of the Ohio. This is the 1838 Cincinnati first edition of Old Tippecanoe’s best-known piece. Harrison was intrigued by the mounds he saw in the area. Item 177. $1,250.

Item 225 is an important and rare book about the Midwest, Illinois in particular, from 1855. John Reynolds’ My Own Times, Embracing Also, The History of My Life, describes conditions and events in Illinois during the first half of the 19th century. Among topics discussed is the history of various forts, the War of 1812 and several Indian wars, hunting, sports, settlements, railroads, and several chapters devoted to the Mormon settlement in Nauvoo. Four hundred copies of the book were printed, but 300-325 of these were reportedly lost in the Chicago fire of 1857. $850.

Item 228 is another rarity, Daniel Sanders’ A History of the Indian Wars… The book generated an extreme criticism in a contemporary magazine, apparently because Sanders spoke of New England bigotry and mistreatment of Indians. As a result, either Sanders or his publisher had most copies suppressed. It was once believed to be an extreme rarity as a result, but it now appears enough copies survived to be just uncommon rather than extremely rare. $1,250.

Item 238 is William Smith’s account of his resignation from President James Madison’s cabinet. Smith had both foreign policy and personal disagreements with Madison, his appointment having been more of a political compromise than an enthusiastic one by Madison. Smith’s An Address to the People of the United States was printed in London in 1811. $200.

On January 24, 1870, the “Oneida” was struck by the steamship “City of Bombay” off the Japanese coast. The “Oneida” sank with 115 men being lost. The Bombay sailed on without rendering assistance. Some people felt the accident was caused by the recklessness of the “Bombay,” others that the “Bombay” deliberately struck her mistaking the “Oneida” for a rival merchant steamer. Item 264 is the U.S. Navy’s Full Report of the Proceedings of a Naval Court of Enquiry…$500.

Michael Brown Rare Books may be reached at 215-387-2290 or by email at mbamericna@mindspring.com.