Washington, DC, Government Printing Office, 1870; New York, NY, Julies Bien, [1870]. Large 4to (29.2 x 23.2 cm) and large, oblong folio (49.0 x 64.2 cm). Lithographed frontispiece, xiii, 646 pp.; 37 plates and maps (text volume); [AND] title page; 14 large maps, of which all but one hand-coloured or colour-printed (atlas volume). Original green cloth with embossed boards and gilt title on the spine (text volume); [AND] original green half roan over green cloth. Front boar with gilt title (atlas volume).

Between 1867 and 1872 the U.S. Geological Exploration of the 40th Parallel, led by Clarence King, examined the natural resources (especially mineral), geology, and topography of the region flanking the transcontinental railroad between the Sierra Nevada and the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. Volume 3 was the first published, thus before volumes 1 and 2, which deal with general and systematic geology. This part is the only part on mining. Complete sets would comprise seven volumes. The other volumes deal with other aspects (e.g. botany, ornithology), or more specific geological subjects such as petrology and palaeontology. King's abilities as a field geologist, scientist and administrator, and his ability to pick highly talented field assistants made this one of the great survey of the West. Future surveys, i.e., by Hayden, Powell, and Wheeler, were modelled after King's survey. After finishing this survey and with the abolishment of other surveys by Congress in 1879, King was to become the first Director of the USGS. The work contains a separate volume of 14 atlas plates. This oblong atlas was published separately by another company, Julius Bien in New York City, and is nearly always missing. Library bookplate on the front pastedown of the atlas volume; library number written on the title page of the text volume; boards of the atlas volume much rubbed at edges; the leather partly abraded and the cloth cover partly split at edges and worn; minor wear to the boards of text volume; offsetting to the text volume title. Some soiling to atlas preliminaries, otherwise a very good, clean set. Schmeckebier, Publications of King's Survey, pp. 39-40.