Owen, David Dale, et.al.; Report of a Geological Survey of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota; and incidentally of a Portion of Nebraska Territory. Philadelphia, 1852. Large quarto, text, pp. xxxviii, 638, frontispiece, engraved title page vignette, 69 text engravings. Atlas, two copper engraved folded maps, (hand colored), 27 engraved plates of fossils, 19 folded engraved plates of profiles, sections, and views (many hand colored).

The set is complete and in the original decorative embossed cloth with gilt spine and cover titles. Bindings are tight, text volume re-cased with modern end sheets and spine margins restored. Inscribed to owner on end sheet. Atlas is inscribed from Senator Henry Dodge to John Brackem of Mineral Point, Wisconsin. Maps and profiles have mis-folds but are intact and clean. Over all a very good set.

In 1839 Owen joined the Federal Government's General Land office to survey the mineral lands of Wisconsin and Illinois and then completed the above survey of Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. In his study Owen practiced the then new method of employing a fixed system of colours to denote strata on a geological map. He was the first to apply the term "Carboniferous" to coal measures and the first to name and correlate many of the formations of the Mississippi Valley. Owen provides some of the first detailed studies of the geology and stratigraphy in the region. Leidy provides the first accurate desciptions of the fossil mammalia and reptilia. These as well as invertebrate fossils are illustrated in 27 engraved plates. J. G. Norwood describes the geology of Middle and Western Minnesota. Whittlesey describes the geology, copper deposits and iron ores found in Wisconsin south of Lake Superior and Shumard describes sections alongs the St Peter's, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Barraboo, Snake and Kettle Rivers.