Volume 17 in the American Exploration and Travel Series " Commerce of the Prairies] has become established as the classic of the Santa Fe Trail and of life on the prairies at the time they were solidly turfed with primeval grass. The year 1954 will see no new book fresher in content or more vivid on the life and land of the Southwest than this first adequate reprint of Gregg's 'Commerce of the Prairies, ' edited - with wisdom as well as with knowledge - by Max L. Moorhead." - New York Times. "This newest and best edition of Josiah Gregg's classic is a welcome addition to the western bookshelf . . . . The editor's excellent notes give evidence of extensive research, the explanatory material being drawn from the National Archives, the archives of Mexico and of New Mexico, and from other source collections." - Mississippi Valley Historical Review. "The book has gone through various editions and reprints since its first publication in 1844. This edition is based on the first edition of 1844, and in addition to the complete text, notes, and maps it also contains a biographical introduction, critical notes, and a list of the author's sources." - American Historical Review