Dix, Edwards & Company published this first edition of A JOURNEY THROUGH TEXAS, Or, A Saddle-Trip on the Southwestern Frontier; with a Statistical Appendix by Frederick Law Olmstead in 1857.  This is the second volume in the author's 3-volume series of A Journey in the Seaboard Slave States.  In cloth over boards, the binding measures 5.25" x 7.75" and consumes 516 pages, including a lengthy Appendix which concludes with contemporary advertisements similar to present-day Classified Ads (see the next-to-last frame of our gallery, which over-all makes a genuine effort to commuicate content and condition).

Condition:

Poor condition but complete including map.  Faults include, but are not limited to: Front board and cloth spine detached from text block but still attached to back board; tape; rubs, bumps and minor stain; tape residue at head and heel of spine with small losses from latter.  Front endpapers and Title Page secured with tape.  Very isolated instances of penciled marking.  A binding copy, that is, a book that needs to be rebound but merits the effort. 

Per an A.I. overview:

Frederick Law Olmsted's "A Journey Through Texas" provides a detailed account of Olmsted's travels through Texas in the 1850's, offering insights into the state's landscape, people and social dynamics, including the pervasive influence of slavery. dynamics. Olmsted's book, published in 1857, is considered one of the best accounts of the American West, and it remains relevant for its historical and social observations.

Key aspects of the book:

• Firsthand Observations:

  Olmsted's narrative is based on his personal experiences and interactions with various groups of people, including Texans, German settlers, and enslaved individuals, according to the Univesity of Texas Press.
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• Social and Cultural Context:
• The book offers a rich description of Texas life on the eve of the Civil War, including its diverse population, agricultural practices, and the impact of slavery. 
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• Description of the Landscape:
• Olmsted's writing captures the beauty and harsh realities of the Texas landscape, from the East Texas piney woods to the prairies and coastal regions, according to Texas Co-op Power. 
• Analysis of Slavery:
• Olmsted's book provides a critical examination of slavery's impact on the state's economy, social structure, and the lives of those enslaved. A
• Antislavery Sentiment:
• While not explicitly an abolitionist, Olmsted's book voiced concerns about the morality and economic inefficiency of slavery, according to Humanities Texas. 
• Immigration and Settlement:
• Olmsted's travels led him to observe and admire the German settlers in towns like New Braunfels, according to Humanities Texas. 
• Olmsted's Legacy:
• The book highlights Olmsted's career as a surveyor, merchant seaman, farmer, magazine publisher, and traveling newspaper correspondent before he became America's foremost landscape architect.