Personal Narrative of Explorations and Incidents in Texas, New Mexico, California, Sonora, and Chihuahua

A man of diverse talents and interests, Bartlett served as the Commissioner on the government survey to establish the boundary between the U.S. and Mexico. His watercolors and drawings were used to illustrate the book he subsequently wrote about his southwestern explorations (and are now held in the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art). This copy of the book is inscribed by Bartlett to Spencer F. Baird, an avid naturalist and Assistant Secretary at the Smithsonian at this date (later Secretary, as well as Director of the National Museum).