Lewis and Clark Track, Across the Western Portion of North America...: Francis P. Harper, c.1893

Title: Lewis and Clark Track, Acrofs the Western Portion of North America from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean, By Order of the Executive of the United States in 1804, 5 & 6. Copied by Samuel Lewis from the Original Drawing of Wm Clark. Author: Francis P. Harper Date: c.1893 Condition: See description Inches: 27 1/4 x 12 1/8 [Paper] Centimeters: 69.21 x 30.79 [Paper] Product ID: 308703 This handsome map is a reprint of William Clark’s celebrated map of western North America, likely issued with Francis P. Harper’s 1893 edition of History of the Expedition Under the Command of Lewis and Clark. Engraved by Samuel Harrison after the original Philadelphia map of 1814, it follows the epic path of Lewis and Clark’s journey with Sacagawea through the American West and includes a wealth of Native American placenames and settlements that add depth and historical interest. Commissioned by Jefferson and funded by Congress in early 1803 at a cost of just $2,500, the expedition was the first exploration officially sponsored by the federal government. The Louisiana Purchase, finalized later that year, only increased its importance and urgency. Setting out from St. Louis in May 1804, the Corps of Discovery traveled some 8,000 miles over two and half years, crossing the Rocky Mountains, reaching the mouth of the Columbia River, and returning by nearly the same route. Based on Clark’s manuscript, this remarkably accurate and detailed map was praised by Wheat as the “master map of the American West.” Beyond its historical significance, it remains a powerful and highly desirable visual document of America’s westward expansion. Condition Very Good. Creased along the folds with several small fold separations that have been expertly repaired. There is a single small chip at the top edge that has also been repaired. Background on Creator Francis P. Harper was a New York bookseller and publisher active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is best known for issuing Americana, rare-book catalogs, and scholarly works related to the discovery, settlement, and history of the Western Hemisphere. His imprint appears in several important historical and map-related publications. Harper also had a strong connection to the antiquarian book trade, and later records note that he worked with his younger brother Lathrop Harper in the same business. One of his best-known publication titles was Bibliotheca Americana, a priced catalog that reflects the kind of collector and research material his firm specialized in. In short, Francis P. Harper was an influential publisher and dealer whose work helped circulate rare books, historical sources, and cartographic material.