For your consideration is a First Edition of Volumes 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", publisher The Heritage Press, New York. This book was edited by Nickolas Biddle, and the introduction was written by John Bakeless. The watercolour and drawing illustrations are by Carl Bodmer and other contemporary artists. John Bakeless has written over a dozen books, including "Lewis and Clark, Partners in Discovery," 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 colours. Thirteen of the plates are from paintings by Carl Bodmer and three paintings are by George Bird King. The books 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. The condition of the two-volume set is nice with fading and staining noted to each spine. Inside boards and endpapers exhibit foxing at hinges. Intact pages exhibit foxing on top, bottom, and, fore edges. The original slipcases are included with splits on the seams and scuffing to the edges, fading and staining. The measurements of these books are 8.25"W x 12"L x 1"D each. The approximate total weight is 6lb 4oz.