50. HALL, Edward H[epple]. The Great West: Emigrants', Settlers', & Travellers' Guide and Hand-Book to the States of California and Oregon, and the Territories of Nebraska, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Washington. With a Full and Accurate Account of their Climate, Soil, Resources, and Products, Accompanied by a Map Showing the Several Routes to the Gold Fields, and a Complete Table of Distances.  New York:  Published and for Sale at the Tribune Office, 1864.  89 [1 blank] pp., folded lithograph map: Untitled map of the routes from the Northeast to West, neat line to neat line:  13.5 x 39 cm.  12mo, original brown printed wrappers, original stitching.  Wrappers lightly chipped, especially at spine extremities, upper wrapper slightly separating, two leaves (pp. 79-82) torn into text (no losses), overall fine.  A rare book, especially in original condition in wrappers, like this copy.  Preserved in half crimson morocco slipcase and chemise.

     First edition.  Adams, Herd 973: “Rare.”  Braislin 884. Buck 655. Cowan II, p. 258. Flake 3793:  “History of the Territory of Utah, Mormonism deliberately played down to make the area seem desirable.”  Graff 1724. Holliday 470.  Howes H55.  Jones 1472.  Munk (Alliot), p. 94. Paher, Nevada 761:  “The guide discusses how to travel across country and how to outfit a team and wagon.  Hall includes prices of goods and furnishes a table of distances.  He describes the history, mines and rapidly growing towns of Nevada Territory.”  Plains & Rockies IV:400:  “This work seems to be another scissors-and-paste compilation, including articles that originally appeared in the New York Tribune.”  Rader 1735. Sabin 29761. Smith 2983. Streeter Sale 3073.

     Hall apparently intended this guide basically for emigrants coming from the Northeast.  Railroad routes on the map are shown to St. Joseph and jump-off points from Leavenworth, Atchison, St. Joseph, Nebraska City, and Council Bluffs; one route far to the north leaves from St. Paul, Minnesota.  The routes all terminate at either Olympia or Sacramento.  Hall clearly meant this guide book for those who might stop at just about any point along the way, including Nebraska, where he remarks that emigrants should be aware of land sharks, “a very accommodating set of fellows, who are only too glad to assist, if they can only succeed in swindling you.”  Although some attention is given to other activities, such as stock raising and farming, much space is devoted to mineral resources and mining in each area.  Montana, about which Hall admits he knows nothing, is very briefly described.  The final section is an even briefer description of Arizona, about which it is noted that the Native Americans have been dealt yet another defeat and “at this rate they will soon be forced into treaty, and consent to be put upon a reservation.” ($1,000-3,000)

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