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 book was edited by Nickolas Biddle and features an introduction by John Bakeless. It was illustrated with watercolors and drawings 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 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 in the original slipcase. The condition of this two-volume set is good and extremely well-preserved, showing some wear to the sleeves of the books. The measurements of these books are 12" x 8 1/4" for both books.