[First], Second, Third Report and Forth Report of the Geological Survey in Kentucky made during the years 1854 and 1855; 1856, 1857, 1861 [with] Atlas

Description:

Scarce almost complete set of the First Series of four reports together with rare separate portfolio, detailing the remarkable geological survey of the state of Kentucky under the leadership of the pioneering geologist David Dale Owen (1807-1860). Born in New Lanark, Scotland, he was the son of Robert Owen, the famous philanthropist and progressive mill owner. David Owen conducted the first geological surveys of Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. On his death an obituary in Scientific American described him as ‘One of the most eminent men of science in America’.

Other participants in the survey of Kentucky were Robert Peter (1805-1895), chemical assistant; Sidney S. Lyon (1808-1872.) and Joseph Lesley, topographical assistants; Leo Lesquereux, (1808-1872), palæontological assistant and Edward Travers Cox (1821-1907), geological assistant.

A History of The Kentucky Geological Survey (1838-1921), by W.R. Jillson (1921) states 'No detailed geographical or geological mapping in Kentucky had preceded the Owen Survey, and its record is therefore largely that of a pioneering organization. The reports carefully, scientifically and accurately made to that day, are devoted to the chemical examination and composition of the various minerals and soils of the state, stratigraphical determinations of the major sedimentary sequences, the first topographic maps of portions of the state, delimitations of a portion of the eastern and western coal fields, etc'.

Illustrations in volumes as follows:

Volume I. Plates numbered 1–4 and 6–7, corresponding with the copy held by the University of California Library. Also present are eight folding maps and diagrams, comprising:

A folding sheet containing two comparative maps of Union County, illustrating the differences between earlier mapping and that undertaken for the new Geological Survey, as referred to on p. 399 of Sidney S. Lyon’s topographical report; split along one fold.

A plain folding diagram illustrating five sections; split along one fold.

Hand-coloured folding diagram No. 2, entitled Approximate Section along the Line of Dip of the Eastern Coal Measures…

Five further folding diagrams.

One very large folding map, Geological Survey of Kentucky… Union and Part of Crittenden Counties; with a partial tear at one corner.

Vols 2&3. 'Maps and illustrations referred to in vols. II & III of the report were issued separately in a portfolio. Presented here are the complete suite of 10 plates, and one map only of three, Map No. 2 ‘Geological Survey of Kentucky. Hopkins County’.

Vol. 4. One folding table. Four plates are listed for a paper by Leo Lesquereux, 'Report of the Fossil Flora, and of the Stratigraphical Distribution of the Coal in the Kentucky Coal Fields', however these plates were published much later. The delay was due to the Civil War and the death of David Owen. An obituary for Owen is included in this volume.

Condition

4 vols + portfolio atlas, roy. 8vo, orig. cloth. Withdrawn from an institutional library, with stamps, etc. Good. Numerous maps, mostly folded, (some partly torn). Printed label to atlas states 'Maps and illustrations referred to in vols. II & III of the report of the Geological survey of Kentucky, 1857'. In this copy there are three maps, one bound in vol.1, one in the Atlas, map no.2 ' Geological Survey of Kentucky. Hopkins County', It would appear that this copy lacks two maps from the Atlas. All 10 lithographed plates present.