This book hopes to attract settlers to the Wabash Valley in Indiana and is filled with facts and figures in furtherance to that objective. This rare book, complete with the map and important plates, was considered to be important to the beginning of agriculture on the prairies. It also contained considerable information on the various transportation routes of the day. The large, very detailed folding map: "Mitchell's Map of the United States, Showing the Principal Traveling Turnpike and Common Roads…" (1838, 23.5" x 18.8", outline color). The map, printed on fine banknote paper, is beautifully engraved and has eight insets detailing the vicinity of major towns in America. Table beneath the long title gives the distances between major cities. A keyboard style border and fancy titling embellish the map. There is also a foldout plan for a prairie home and two of farm equipment including the rare lithographed plate of Hussey's Reaping Machine (10.5 x 7.5") accompanied by a four-page report by the Board of Trustee of "the Maryland Agricultural Society" regarding Hussey's Grain Cutter. Hardbound with green cloth and gilt on spine. Title page, introduction, text, map and plates, 175 pp. with annotation on front free-end paper from the author. Considered rare, particularly in this condition and more so in this complete state with the large folding map.

References: Howes #E128; Streeter III #1417

Condition: B

The map is very good except from a pair of 3" binding tears and a couple of fold intersection splits, all repaired with archival tape. The prairie home plate has a 7" repaired tear. Text and internal plates with some scattered foxing. Covers are quite nice, with just a little rubbing.