A Journey Through Texas; Or, A Saddle-Trip on the Southwestern Frontier: With a Statistical Appendix

xxxiv+516 pages with frontispiece, folding map and appendix. Small octavo (7 1/2" x 5") bound in original publisher's brown cloth stamped in blind, gilt titles on spine. First edition.

Frederick Law Olmsted made extensive tours throughout the region from 1852 to 1857. In 1853-1854, with his brother John, he made a celebrated trip across Texas. His route took him from Natchitoches, Louisiana, across East Texas to Austin, then south through San Marcos and New Braunfels to San Antonio. Following a side trip to Boerne and Sisterdale, the brothers made their way to the coast at Indianola, returned to San Antonio, and then traveled to Eagle Pass on the Rio Grande, where they made a brief foray into Mexico. Retracing their steps to San Antonio, they headed east through LaGrange, Houston, and Beaumont and left Texas at Turner s Ferry on the Sabine River.

During the trip, Olmsted wrote letters that commented on all phases of town and country life in Texas, fifteen of which were published in the New York Daily Times. Three years after the trip the letters served as the framework for a book, written as much by his brother John as by Olmsted himself, entitled A Journey through Texas; Or, A Saddle-Trip on the Southwestern Frontier: With a Statistical Appendix. The first printing (2500 copies) of the book nearly sold out within one month of publication and eventually became a major source for historians of Texas and slavery.

Condition: Rubbed, stained and faded, corners slightly bumped, light foxing, previous owner's name to title and end papers else about very good.