This book was intended to make the people acquainted with the superb creations of Nature that distinguish the United States above other countries.  The editor’s intention was to select subjects of the most prominent types of scenery.  Those landscape whose names have for years been familiar to our ears as household words, but whose sublime beauty and magnificence the great mass of our population have had no adequate conception.  Description, without illustrations are indeed “songs without words.”

On this continent nature has been so fantastic in many of her works, and scattered her beauties around with lavish profusion, that, to the true lover of the picturesque, America presents charms unknown to other lands.  It is upon the faithful rendition of these features, and of the most sublime of these beauties that we present for your enjoyment.

AMERICA ILLUSTRATED edited by J. David Williams and published in New York in 1877.  Original cloth binding with the title printed in gilt letters.  The hardcover binding is brown with black decoration around the edges.  A bright gilt edge is present on all three sides of the pages.  The book is in very good condition, and contains 121 pages. The book measures 12 1/4" x 9 3/4".  The binding is tight and the pages are clean, except for some foxing that only affects the title page.    The contents page lists 76 wood engravings many are full page.

CONTENTS:

THE VALLEY OF THE YELLOWSTONE

THE HUDSON RIVER AT WEST POINT

NATURAL BRIDGE, VIRGINIA

TRENTON HIGH FALLS, NEW YORK

SQUAM LAKE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

WHITE MOUNTAINS, NEW HAMPSHIREE

LAKE GEORGE, NEW YORK

MOMMOTH CAVE, KENTUCKY

MINOT’S LEDGE LIGHTHOUSE, MASSACHUSETTS

NIAGRA FALLS, NEW YORK

EAST RIVER SUSPENSION BRIDGE, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

HOT SPRINGS AND GEYSERS OF THE YELLOWSTONE

THE EAST RIVER, LONG ISLAND SOUND

THE YOSEMITE VALLEY

SARATOGA SPRINGS AND SARATOGA LAKE

THE PROPOSED CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION AT PHILADELPHIA

THE REGION OF THE JUNIATA

NIAGARA FALLS: PAST AND FUTURE

SABATH-DAY POINT, LAKE GEORGE, NEW YORK

THE ERIE CANAL

IN THE ADIRONDACKS, NEW YORK

THE WONDERS OF THE COLORADO RIVER

LUMBERING ON THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER

THE HUDSON RIVER

THE GREAT LAKES AND THEIR GREAT CITIES

ILLUSTRATIONS SHOWN:

            THE NAURAL BRIDGE, VIRGINIA

            THE YOSEMITE FALLS

            SABATH-DAY POINT, LAKE GEORGE, NEW YORK