For your consideration is this first edition of volume I and II of “The Journals of the Expedition Under the Command of Capt.'s Lewis and Clark: to the Sources of the Missouri, thence across the Rocky Mountains and down the river Columbia to the Pacific Ocean, performed during the years 1804-5-6 by order of the Government of the United States”. The books were edited by Nickolas Biddle with an introduction by John Bakeless. Water color and drawing illustrations were done by Carl Bodmer and other contemporary artists. John Bakeless has written over a dozen books, including "Lewis and Clark, Partners in Discovery", which is one of the first and foremost scholarly works on Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. This edition also includes sixteen full-page plates in four, five, and six colors. Thirteen of the plates are from paintings by Carl Bodmer and three paintings by George Bird King. They are bound in decorated, parchment-toned buckram with a map design in sepia and buckram spine labels hand-lettered and stamped in pure gold leaf. They are on the original slipcase. The condition of this two volume set is good, showing well-preserved condition of the books. The spines show wear to the gilt and the slipcases show cracking (shown in photos.) The measurements of these books are 12" x 8 1/4" for both books.