PLACE NAMES OF WASHINGTON; A Guide for Travelers and Armchair Adventurers; Who Named What...and Why; Nearly 7,000 Entries.
Tacoma, Washington: Washington State Historical Society, 1985. FIRST EDITION (NAP). Good Plus. Quarto (11 1/4 in. x 8 1/2 in.). Maroon boards, single ruled in gilt, with gilt lettering. Several lightly nudged corners. 304 pp. Addendum tipped in near rear. Minor shelfwear and edgewear to dustjacket, with one slight chip ( 1.25 in. x 1/4 in.) from top left of dustjacket, adjacent to spine. Very Good. Item #86623
ISBN: 0917048571
"...Many names in Washington originated with the Indians, who could only pronounce them, not write them, and so what resulted was the phonetic spelling by the pioneers of what they thought the Indians were saying, and the resulting words were often strange indeed. Sorting them out was not easy. At least a dozen different spellings of the name Cowlitz, for example, can be found in the journals of the explorers and fur traders. Washington is the only state...where Chinook jargon, a curious mixture of English, French and several Indian languages left its imprint..." (Author's Preface).
Map endpapers. A handsome, very practical and very readable reference work for historians, history buffs, Washington State employees, or just for readers and geography enthusiasts.
Price: $75.00