[AMERICAN EXPLORATION]. BALL, John (1794-1884). Remarks upon the Geology and Physical Features of The Country West of The Rocky Mountains… [being an article in] [SILLIMAN, Benjamin (1779-1864), editor] The American Journal of Science and Arts, Vol. XXVIII - July, 1835. New Haven: Hezekiah How & Co., et al., 1835. 8vo. With 2 plates inserted at rear. viii, 1-404 pp. Approximately 8 ½ x 5 ¼”. Bound in modern library binding of full blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt (text foxed with a few creases). Fine. FIRST EDITION OF THIS IMPORTANT ACCOUNT OF TRAVELS OF AN EARLY EXPLORATION TO OREGON: “In a letter to Prof. Benjamin Silliman, Ball describes his journey to Oregon in 1832 as a member of N. J. Wyeth’s party of would-be fur traders and Ball’s return trip by way of Cape Horn. He traveled from Lexington, Missouri, along the Oregon Trail… and over South Pass to the Lewis [Snake] River. Continuing through the Grande Ronde to Walla Walla, Ball descended the Columbia River to Fort Vancouver, where he spent the winter of 1822-23 teaching school. He stayed briefly in Willamette Valley, departed on the Hudson’s Bay Company ship in October for the Sandwich Islands and finally reached home July of 1834.” (Becker Wagner-Camp 53).