Colorado River Exploration

Exploration of the Colorado River of the West

And Its Tributaries explored in 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872 [1st Session, 43d Congress, House Misc. Docs, No. 300, Vol. VI, June 16, 1874]

Powell, J. W.

Very Good [11.75x9.5in], xi, 285 pp., [[1], index, 287-291 pp., 80 illustrations on 72 plates including frontispiece, 2 folding maps in rear pocket; Original Federal light brown leather covers with border designs on edges and covers, four ribbed spine with gilt lettering on red and black labels, all edges trimmed; Some shelf wear to covers, edges and spine with rubbing, scratches and stains, corners bumped and worn through, age staining on end papers, light age-toning to text and illustrations, some old stain spots along edges, short joint splits to bottom and top of spine, front hinge cracked, but holding tight, large map with crease stain from rear pocket, prior owner rubber ink signature stamps on preliminary pages and title page, second prior owner heraldic book plate on front paste down. [Poore p. 1021, Graff 336, Howes 529, Wheat Trans-Miss 1261 (Green River map), Farquhar Colorado River 42a]

John Wesley Powell (1834-1902) was an American West explorer, geologist, naturalist (environmetalist), scientist, professor/lecturer, Director of the United States Geological Survey, Director of Ethnology at the Smithsonian, and other related activities focusing on the American West from the 1870's to his death in 1902. He lead three expeditions to Colorado and the Southwest to explore the river systems and geology of the areas from 1867 to 1872. Powell had a significant impact on the U. S. government policies and programs on western development and resources.

This book was written by Powell through the Smithsonian Institution and submitted to Congress. It covers the first and second expeditions from 1869 to 1872 (he lead a smaller private exploratory expedition in Colorado in 1867-68 to gather information for the later expeditions). This book contains a comprehensive description of the Western river system (the Green and Colorado rivers), the geology, and conditions. The report also includes illustrations from photographs of the landscape. The expedition was also to accurately map the rivers and establish baselines for future topographic mapping. After the expedition, Powell returned to lecturing, writing this book, and writing reports for the U.S. Geological Survey.

This book belonged to Arthur Lloyd Thomas (1851–1924), a federal civil servant who served as Secretary of the Utah Territory beginning in 1879 and later as the 14th Territorial Governor of Utah from 1889 to 1893. Following his loss in Utah's inaugural gubernatorial election after statehood, he was appointed Postmaster of Utah, a position he held from 1898 to 1914.