First edition.
"The Bent brothers..formed the vanguard of American expansion to the West. Bent's fort -- their great adobe castle on the banks of the Arkansas -- was the focal point of expansion and exploration, of diplomacy among three ambitious nations: the United States, Texas, and Mexico, and of trade with Santa Fe, Taos, and the [Native Americans]". [From the dust jacket copy]. Very good .
Keywords: AMERICANA; SOUTHWEST; WEST; BENT BROTHERS; CHARLES BENT; WILLIAM BENT; FORT; EXPLORATION; TRADE; TEXAS; MEXICO; SANTA FE; TAOS; NATIVE AMERICANS; AMERICAN INDIANS; DAVID LAVENDER; FIRST EDITION; 1ST EDITION.