signed by author Ballard. no dustjacket. light cover rub marks and minor edge and corner wear.sticker peal mark on 1st page.  pages starting to yellow. a few page margin spots. no marks on text.

The discovery and development of the southwestern and western regions of our country furnish many of the most brilliant passages in the history of the North American continent. History is primarily the story of people and in this volume becomes truly personified in the stories of the various explorers. They indeed come to life within the framework of their national backgrounds, the scientific knowledge to which they had access, the limitations of the misinformation and superstitions by which they were hedged about. There were countless other barriers which these adventurers had to surmount if they were indeed even to survive the physical rigors of their undertakings. The impact of these daring conquerors upon the peoples of the various regions they traversed has been resounding aid unending: they bequeathed to the vast areas of the west and southwest not only a storehouse of legendary riches but also a flavor, an atmosphere, and a way of life to be found nowhere else. in the land. More tangibly,  the Spanish names, architecture, and many other phases of Spain's  culture  are indeed a lasting legacy of history in those daring  conquistadores  as they  march  across the trail of history in these well told tales. Whether it is read for pure entertainment, for enrichment of factual history. or as  armchair adventure, Spanish Adventure Trails can be blazed anew  by a wide diversity if readers.