[PRE-FIRE IMPRINTS]. A group of 6 Chicago Pre-Fire imprints about the Mississippi River and Midwest in 6 volumes, all published in Chicago, most with engraved plates and maps, most in original cloth, condition generally very good.
FORD, Thomas. A History of Illinois from its Commencement as a State in 1818 to 1847. Chicago & NY: Stereotyped by Thomas B. Smith for S.C. Griggs & Co. and Ivison & Phinney, 1854. Modern cloth preserving contemporary morocco lettering-piece gilt. FIRST EDITION. Ante-Fire Imprints 91. -- PARKER, Nathan Howe. Iowa as it is in 1855. Chicago: Smith & Peters for Keen and Lee, 1855. FIRST EDITION. Sabin 58720. -- GERHARD, Frederick. Illinois as it is. Chicago & Philadelphia: Stereotyped by J. Fagan for Keen and Lee & Charles Desilver, 1857. FIRST EDITION. Ante-Fire Imprints 259. -- RITCHIE, James S. Wisconsin and its Resources. Philadelphia & Chicago: Stereotyped by J. Fagan for Charles Desilver and Kenn & Lee, 1857. Second edition. Sabin 71572. -- GALE, George. Upper Mississippi... From A.D. 1600 to the Present Time. Chicago and NY: Church, Goodman & Donnelley for Clarke and Company & Oakley and Mason, 1867. FIRST EDITION. Ante-Fire Imprints 1198. -- FOSTER, J.W. The Mississippi Valley: Its Physical Geography. Chicago & London: Church, Goodman and Donnelley for S.C. Griggs and Company and Truber & Co., 1869. FIRST EDITION. Ante-Fire Imprints 1528. -- Together, 6 works in 6 volumes, all published in Chicago, various 8vo and 12mo sizes, most with engraved plates and maps, most in original cloth, condition generally very good. Provenance: Dudley Bell Priester (1923-2017), Mississippi River collector and bibliographer (bookplate, sold Bloomsbury, 20 November 2009, lots 86, 87, and 97).