London: Hurst and Blackett, 1861. Hardcover. First Edition. George Charles Grantley Fitzhardinge Berkeley (1800 - 1881) was an English politician, author, and sportsman. He had quite a temper and once assaulted the publisher of a magazine that posted a bad review of one of his books. He later fought a duel with the author of the review; however, none of the 3 shots fired landed on either party. This book, which is written in the travelogue style, covers Berkeley's journey from England, his brief stay on the East Coast before departing for the prairie, hunting bison, and his journey home. He includes anecedotes on fishing, murder, the American Press, Native Americans, eyeless fish, rifles, the landscape, and more. All ten illustrations (including vignette on title and 9 plates) are present. Ex-library with perforated stamp to bottom of title page, evidence of removed library sticker to foot of spine, and penciled call number to verso of free endpaper. Bound in three quarter dark teal leather over marbled paper covered boards with gilt title and author to spine. Heavy chipping and wear to leather on spine ends. Wear to hinges, corners, and edges of boards. Front board is slightly warped due to interior dampstain. Marbled endpapers and top edge gilt. Title page and frontis are heavily dampstained. It appears that a liquid was spilled on this spread many years ago. Slight evidence of dampstain to side and top margins of a few pages, but overall the rest of the book is clean. Occasional spots of soiling to margins. A few pencil markings to text. Marbled front free endpaper is present but detached. A good reading copy. 431 pages. SPO/081722. Very Good. More