REPORT OF THE NORTH SEA CANAL OF HOLLAND; AND ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF NAVIGATION FROM ROTTERDAM TO THE SEA; TO THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY.

First Edition. A Presentation Copy from Mr.Simon Stevens to the Hon. Thomas Henry Nelson, who was a friend to Lincoln, and a founder of the Republician party in the Mid-West, and later the U.S. minister to Mexico, 1869-73, "Hon. Thos. H. Nelson United States Minister to Mexico With the compliments of Simon Stevens 29 Broadway New York Dec. 17, 1872". Illustrated and complete with 11 large folding plans and maps and designs of shipping and the routes of the North Sea Canal and of the route from Rotterdam to the sea. 4to, publisher's original quarter dark brown morocco over red-brown cloth, the upper cover lettered and decorated in gilt, the spine with raised bands separating the compartments, two compartments lettered in gilt. 77 pp. + plates. Some rubbing of the leather, and one plate of twelve plates is separated at a fold, and minor wear to other plates, all of which are repairable. A solid very good copy. VERY RARE PRESENTATION COPY OF THIS RARE FIRST EDITION. AUTOGRAPH PRESENTATION OF MR. SIMON STEVENS President of the company providing funds for the study. General Bernard was the engineer in charge of fortifying the city of Washington, D.C. during the Civil War and he is considered to be one of the finest engineers of the period.…