ten engraved illustrations
original folding map in nice condition
REMY, Jules. VOYAGE AU PAYS DES MORMONS. Relation —Géographie, Histoire Naturelle — Histoire — Théologie, Mœurs et Coutumes, par Jules Remy . . . Ouvrage orné de 10 gravures sur acier et d'une Carte. Paris: E. Dentu, Libraire-Éditeur, 1860.
TWO VOLUMES. Medium octavo, 24 cm. (binding, 24½ cm. = 9¾ inches tall). LXXVIII, 432 pp. + the five plates and folding map (6¾ X 17½ inches + engraved caption and generous margins, in excellent condition with no tears); VI, [I], 544 pp. + the five plates. Bibliography of Mormon publications, II:499-506; Index, II:507-544. Collated complete.
$1,100
Original half black morocco leather over black morocco-grained glossy paper-covered boards. Spines blind-stamped into compartments and gilt-lettered. Binding tight and strong. In excellent condition throughout. Minor foxing in areas and a couple clean margin tears without loss, but a lovely, highly presentable set indeed.
FIRST EDITION. Flake 6866; Howes R210; Sabin 69595; Graff 3461 (English edition); Wheat IV:192-3 (discussing the folding map); old Wagner-Camp 364, noting:
Remy and his companion, Brenchley, started from San Francisco July 18, 1855, and proceeded to Salt Lake via Carson Valley. They remained in Salt Lake only 31 days and then left Oct. 26 for Los Angeles via Las Vegas and arrived Nov. 29. After a short stay they went on to San Francisco. Vol. II, pp. [421-433], consists of extracts from Brenchley's journal of a journey from the Missouri River to Oregon in the summer of 1853, leaving in June.
This is a famous and highly-important travel account through Utah, translated the following year as A Journey to Great Salt Lake City (London, 1861). Certainly the most prominent Continental work of this genre, and well-deserving of its high reputation. It was co-authored by Julius Brenchley, whose own copy of the first edition (with his manuscript notes and additions) appeared in my Catalogue Two (1981).
Although critical of the Mormons, this two-volume, leather-bound set is a highly analytical, detailed work which preserves a rich array of first-hand observations which are not duplicated anywhere else. Besides the expected history and review of Mormonism, its doctrines, scripture and sociology, we get such detail as the following example, found in the second volume, pages 399-400 [my translation] . . .
Putting some of the papers in our portfolio in order, our eyes fell upon a letter of introduction which we had completely forgotten. It was addressed by a Mormon to a relative of the late prophet, who resided at Los Angeles for her health. "Here is a letter of worth," we thought. But our hope disappeared in a flash. The wording of this letter was so bizarre, so droll, that we were not sure whether we should present it or retain it in our archives as a curiosity. We concluded upon the latter choice, which was probably the best, as it now allows us to offer this singular document to the reader.
"Great Salt Lake City, 26 October 1855.
"Dear sister Agnes Smith,
"As there are two travelers whom I met in the Sandwich Islands, I seize this occasion to send you word informing you of all of our good health. Jerusha has had a child. That's about all the news at the moment. Except that I have taken a second wife. Her name is Betsy Noon, a daughter of one of Brother H. C. Kimball's wives. Perhaps you know her.
"These gentlemen may pay you a visit. They are rich, and I don't think you have anything to lose by them.
"Upon which, I remain your respectful
"James."
Engraving of Fillmore, capitol of Utah Territory
On a more substantial note, this work discusses everything from Native Americans, their music and their writings, to the Deseret Alphabet (with illustrations of both), the Anthon Transcript (with fine illustration) - even daily temperature statistics which they kept in Utah for a month, plus comparative temperatures of Las Vegas! The set is worth much for the plates alone, and the beautifully-engraved double portrait of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, set in an oval ("From the original painting located in Brigham Young's mansion") is particularly striking.
Joseph Smith's face, greatly enlarged from the double portrait
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