The Life and Adventures of Kit Carson. the Nestor of the Rocky Mountains, from Facts Narrated by Himself

New York: W. R. C. Clark & Co., 1859. Second Printing. Very Good.

Rebound if smooth dark-brown half-leather with leather spine gilted title to brown pebbled paper with a front leather emblem in gilt. The edges are marbled, though faded.  Renewed endpages with original preliminaries. 8vo, 9.25 inches tall,534 pages, 10 plates.

The bindings are tight and square. Text clean, light even toning, occasional foxing in the margins. No wear to the boards.. Christopher Houston Carson, known as "Kit Carson" (1809-1868), epitomized the spirit of the American frontier as a seasoned fur trapper, wilderness guide, Indian agent, and Union Army general.

Renowned in his lifetime through biographies and news articles, his adventures were often sensationalized in dime novels. Carson's journey began in his youth, honing his skills as a hunter and trapper. His path intersected with explorer John C. Frémont in 1842, leading to his pivotal role in expanding the United States' territories.

Transitioning to federal Indian agency work in the 1850s, Carson continued his service during the Civil War, bolstering the Union Army. He remains a symbol of the rugged individualism and exploration that defined the early days of the American West.

The illustrations are by the Dublin-born Arthur Lumley (1837-1912), who would become an acclaimed artist during the Civil War.

Ref: Howes P-256.  Alliot 177, Reese, Best of the West p. 139. Graff 3260, Rader 2649, Wagner-Camp 306:1..