ADVENTURES ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER, INCLUDING THE NARRATIVE OF A RESIDENCE OF SIX YEARS ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS, AMONG VARIOUS TRIBES OF INDIANS HITHERTO UNKNOWN: TOGETHER WITH A JOURNEY ACROSS THE AMERICAN CONTINENT

London: Henry Colburn & Richard Bentley, 1831. Two volumes. [iii]-xxiv,368; [iii]-viii,400pp. Lacks half titles. 20th-century three-quarter calf and marbled boards, spine richly gilt with raised bands and black and burgundy morocco labels. Small ink stamp at bottom of both titlepages. Light shelf wear. Occasional foxing and tanning. Very good. First edition of one of the two most important sources of information about Oregon in the early period. This work, along with Alexander Ross' ADVENTURES OF THE FIRST SETTLERS ON THE OREGON OR COLUMBIA RIVER (London, 1849), are generally considered to be the prime printed sources of information on the exploration and settlement of Oregon. Cox left Hawaii and arrived in Oregon with the Astoria party in 1812, later working for the North West Company. In 1817 he went overland to Montreal. "Cox's narrative gives an excellent firsthand account of the fur trade and of the Indian tribes in Montana, Idaho, and eastern Washington with whom the fur traders dealt and sometimes fought. While Cox was making this journey the tension between Hudson's Bay and Northwest Companies had become very acute and he gives a good account of their rivalry" - Streeter. WAGNER-CAMP 43:1. TWENEY 89, 10. HOWES C822, "aa." PILLING, PROOF-SHEETS 915. FIELD 376. SABIN 17267. JUDD 47. PEEL 83. COWAN, p.59. STREETER SALE 3702. HILL 390. FORBES 775. REESE, BEST OF THE WEST 58. (Inventory #: WRCAM34107D)