Rare Book Monthly

Articles - May - 2003 Issue

Oregon Trail</i> Part II Finding Gems Along the Trail

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A check on Abebooks finds no copies available at the moment. Another candidate for the new “Wants List.” However, we do find several reasonably priced copies of a 1973 translation by the Oregon Book Society. For those more interested in learning about the history of the Trail than collecting original editions, and whose French is somewhat less than fluent, these copies make an interesting read.

There’s more to explore in the AED. If you prefer German to French, there’s 1859’s Ein Ritt nach Californien. This party traveled the old Mormon Trail on its way to California. Another very early work, 1845 to be exact, by Captain John Charles Fremont, describes his explorations from 1842-44. This title appears on both the Grolier American list and the Zamorano 80. While not excessively rare, you can still expect to spend several thousand dollars for a copy complete with its maps and plates. The maps include early depictions of the Oregon Trail. This title is considered a major work of western Americana.

There’s more fascinating material to be found in the AED, but I’ve traveled far enough down the trail for one day. For those of you wishing to join me in this exploration through the early west, I wish you “Happy Trails.”

Posted On: 2019-04-04 18:33
User Name: nelsonsdavis

Hello! stumbled across your "finding gems along the trail". wondering if you'd be of some help to me. I have several books my family would like to sell. One of them happens to be The California & Oregon Trail by Parkman - here is a description - Being sketches of Prairie and Rocky Mountain Life. Beautiful condition. Original Cloth jacket in very good condition - no tears, no rips, no sign of wear. Gold labeling on Spine, bright, clear. Very little foxing at beggining and end of book - most pages very white and clear. Book is in a custom sleeve. First edition, first printing of Parkman's classic account of his journey along the Oregon Trail. Octavo, original cloth, tinted lithographic frontispiece and vignette half title by Felix Octavius Carr Darley.

This is the scarce first issue in cloth, with ad leaf preceding the frontispiece. Publisher's catalogue in the rear and binding with PARKMAN set in sans-serif type on the spine.

My Q is this - could you direct me to sites where I could approach buyers directly?

If you're interested in other titles I currently have, here are some links -

This google sheet currently has 86 books and maps posted – Pikes book and atlas are in this list - This link will take you to a google doc - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1m6faeCg5fspfChAmF2eC3Lgkr_KzHCHr5fSTzmk5ZaA/edit?usp=sharing

I’ve started to take photos of all in the sheet – so far about 27 books have been uploaded, which you can find here – (Pikes book and atlas are included) https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1sBZG6sEB7RGGyZ9UR_xRO40Q9-9_raDW?usp=sharing – more photos will be posted in the coming weeks.

Best wishes,
Nelson

Nelson S. Davis
Market Research – Consulting – Client and Business Development – for hire!
Will work for Euros and US Dollars – Gold and Silver might work…..
+1 914.396.3662
nelsonsdavis@gmail.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nelsondavis/


Rare Book Monthly

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    Potter & Potter, Apr. 18: EDISON, Thomas. Patent for Edison’s Improvements on the Electric-Light, No. 219,628. [Washington, D.C.: U.S. Patent Office], 16 September 1879. $2,000 to $3,000.
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