Vols. I & II. [2], xxxvii, [3], 183, [1]; [4], 185-393 pp. Illustrated with numerous plates, including photogravures from photographs by E.S. Curtis, C. Hart Merriam; color lithographs and color heliotypes from drawings and paintings by Louis A. Fuertes, Frederick S. Dellenbaugh, R. Swain Gifford, Charles R. Knight and Frederick A. Walpole; 5 maps (1 in the text, the others on 3 plates, 1 folding); many illustrations in the text; tissue guards for the plates. 10¼x7, green cloth stamped in gilt, top edges gilt, others untrimmed. First Edition.

The first two volumes of the key study of Alaska on the expedition sponsored by E.H. Harriman in cooperation with the Washington Academy of Sciences. The entire 14-volume set was published over 14 years, and these two volumes, which are the most significant, are often found separately. The first volume covers the Narrative, Glaciers, Natives, with text by John Burroughs, John Muir and George Bird Grinnell; the second volumes covers History, Geography, Resources, with text by William H. Dall, Charles Keller, Henry Gannett, William H. Brewer, C. Hart Merriam, George Bird Grinnell and M.L. Washburn. Of prime significance are the many photogravure plates, most from photographs by E.S. Curtis made just before he embarked on his great photographic study of the North American Indian. The striking color plates are from paintings of birds, landscapes, mammals and flowers. With the ink ownership signature of John Murray to the title-pages.