LANGFORD, Nathaniel Pitt “The Discovery of Yellowstone Park” [Langford, 1905]

LANGFORD, Nathaniel Pitt. The Discovery of Yellowstone Park.

Nathanial Pitt Langford, 1905. First edition. 8.25" x 6", xxxi + 122pp. Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Henry D. Washburn and 45 full-page and in-text halftone illustrations/maps documenting the 1870 Washburn Expedition, including scenes at Hell-Broth Springs, camps, geyser basins, and early exploration activity. Original dark blue cloth, gilt-lettered and pictorially stamped in gilt on the upper board with an expedition scene; gilt spine lettering. Cloth lightly rubbed at extremities with minor surface wear and a few small scuffs, corners gently bumped, spine ends slightly frayed; gilt still bright. Hinges sound, binding firm. Contents clean overall with light, even toning, scattered foxing, and several contemporary ink inscriptions and pencil notes to preliminary and rear blanks, including an illustrated bookplate from Madge E. Harkness and dated annotation from another owner. Very Good.

First book publication of Langford’s firsthand narrative of the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition of 1870, one of the most consequential exploratory journeys in American environmental history. Langford’s account played a central role in shaping public and political understanding of the Yellowstone region and directly influenced the establishment of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park in 1872. An important early Western exploration narrative, richly illustrated and foundational to the conservation movement in the United States.