Sammelband of government documents, with 2 autograph cover letter
Item #75326
[HOOD, Washington]. Sammelband of government documents, with 2 autograph cover letters, relating to the work of the U.S. Topographical Engineers, 1838-1840. Bound in full black morocco, triple-ruled in blind, six gilt-rules, floral corners, elaborate inner gilt dentelles, T.e.g. [Spine reads: Bureau of U.S. Engineers; Reports of 1838-1839 Inclusive. Army Register for 1839. Orders to 1st Jany, 1840.] Professionally rebacked, spine laid down, some faint scattered foxing, else very good. Washington Hood (1808-1840), an 1827 graduate of West Point, was a noted topographical engineer. Hood's map of the Oregon Territory, compiled in 1838, was used by the U.S.A. as justification for its occupation of the territory. In 1835 Hood worked with Robert E. Lee to help develop the boundary between Ohio and Michigan. In 1839, President Van Buren sent Hood to survey the Shawnee lands between Arkansas and Missouri, to use to make land grants by law and issue patents to Indian tribes west of the Mississippi. During this expedition, Hood contracted the disease that was to kill him at 32. Pages 17-19 of Van Buren's Message (#2 below) deals with Hood's survey and boundary marking between Indian tribes west of the Mississippi. Pencil ownership note on front endpaper reads "J.W.P. Lewis, Esq., Civil Engineer. Care of Joseph Willard, Esqr., Attorney at Law, Counselor. Boston." Lewis was a civil engineer who became one of the most noted American designers of lighthouses, the Sand Key lighthouse, Key West, Florida, in 1853. 1. Documents Accompanying the Report of the Chief Engineer. [Washington, DC: n.p., 1838]. 1st ed. Pp. 189-415. 3 engraved folding maps (Flinns Knoll Light, Governors Island, Oc. 1838; 2 Prequ'ile maps of 1838). Relates to the Cumberland Road in Indiana, the Arkansas, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers, and Lake Erie. With several marginal pencil marks by Hood. 2. Message from the President of the United States, Showing the Operations of the Topographical Bureau during the Year 1839. 26th Congress, 1st Session. Senate Doc. 58. [Washington, DC]: Blair & Rives, printers, [1840]. 1st ed. 271pp. Pages 17-19 relate to Hood's survey west of the Mississippi and have two pencil corrections by him. There are other marginal annotations by Hood including a note criticizing a decision about using hemlock timber. 3. Officia.
Price: $2,250.00