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489. [COMSTOCK LODE] Beebe, Lucius and Charles Clegg.
Legends
of the Comstock Lode. [8], 9-79, [1] pp. Numerous illustrations
from various sources. 8-1/2x5-1/4, tan linen with spine title
in brown, pictorial endpapers, pictorial dust jacket. First printing.
Oakland: Graham H. Hardy, 1950. * Lewis, Oscar. Silver Kings.
The Lives and Times of MacKay, Fair, Flood, and O'Brien, Lords
of the Nevada Comstock Lode. [1 adv.], [4], v-xii, [2], 3-286,
viii, [2] pp. Sixteen unpaginated plates with twenty-nine illustrations
from various sources. 8-1/4x5-1/2, red cloth with spine title
in silver, pictorial dust jacket. First edition. New York: Alfred
A. Knopf, 1947.
Together two volumes on the Comstock Lode: both first editions.
The first one is in fine condition. The dust jacket of the second
is quite worn - otherwise in very good condition. (50/80).
490. [COMSTOCK LODE] Browne, J. Ross.
Washoe Revisited. Notes
on the Silver Regions of Nevada. [5], vi-viii, [1], 2-186,
[3] pp. Frontispiece illustration from a photograph of J. Ross
Browne's residence in Oakland and numerous illustrations throughout
the text from drawings by the author. 10-1/2x7-1/4, gray cloth
with gilt spine title. Limited edition of 500 copies printed at
the Abbey Press. Oakland: Biobooks, [1957].
Although one would have difficulty in determining the origin
of this work from a perusal of the publisher's discursive introduction,
this is a reprint of the last 240 pages of J. Ross Browne's book
entitled Adventures in the Apache Country: a Tour through Arizona
and Sonora, with Notes on the Silver Regions of Nevada published
originally in 1869 by Harper & Brothers. J. Ross Browne had
a remarkably varied career as seaman, secretary, author, world
traveler, government employee, confidential agent, Indian agent,
diplomat, and artist to mention only a partial list. His drawings
are still being used today to illustrate works on western history.
First editions of all his books [but not this fine reprint] will
be offered in the sale encompassing western literature [also see
item # 344,and 345, catalog # 2]. Fine condition. (40/70).
With original Virginia and Truckee Railroad time
schedule, 1876
491. [COMSTOCK LODE] Beebe, Lucius and Charles Clegg.
Virginia
& Truckee. A Story of Virginia City and and Comstock Times.
[5], 8-58, [5] pp. Two maps by Frederick Shaw, drawings by E.
S. Hammack and numerous illustrations from old photographs. 9x6,
pictorial boards with printed spine title, pictorial dust jacket.
First edition.
Oakland: Graham H. Hardy, 1949.
Large [15-1/2x20] original Virginia & Truckee time table
[folded to 5x8] with handwritten entries for July 8, 1876 and
a prospectus for this book laid in. The entries show the cargo
of the trains, the time of arrival and departure at each of the
stations, the names of the personnel for each train etc. All in
fine condition.
(100/150).
492. [COMSTOCK LODE] Drury, Wells.
An Editor on the Comstock
Lode. [4], v-xx, [2], 3-343 pp. Frontispiece, map and twenty-two
unpaginated plates with illustrations from various sources. 8-1/4x5-1/2,
beige cloth with spine and cover titles. First edition. New York,
Toronto: Farrar & Rinehart, Inc. [1936]. * Beebe, Lucius.
Comstock Commotion. The Story of the Territorial Enterprise
and Virginia City News. [1 adv.], [6], 129, [1] pp. Numerous
illustrations from various sources. 9-1/4x6, tan linen with printed
spine and cover titles, pictorial endpapers, pictorial dust jacket.
First edition. Stanford: Stanford University Press, [1954]. Glasscock,
C. B. The Big Bonanza. The Story of the Comstock Lode.
[12], 13-368 pp. Frontispiece portrait. 8-1/2x5-3/4, orange cloth
with spine and cover titles in red, pictorial dust jacket. First
edition. Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, [1931].
Second volume signed by the author. Wells Drury joined the ranks
of Comstock Lode journalists in the heyday of the mines when fortunes
were made and lost in a matter of weeks and months. Starting out
as a cub reporter on the Gold Hill News in 1874, he eventually
became editor of the Territorial Enterprise in Virginia
City during his eighteen year sojourn in Comstock Lode country.
The first book contains his personal reminiscences about the fascinating
drama of everyday life in that legendary place and time and the
rare dry spells for news when the reporters made up their own
fantastic stories to capture the attention of the readers. Drury
devotes an entire chapter to Dan DeQuille [see item #496]. In
the second item, Lucius Beebe relates tales of the tumultous times
of the Territorial Enterprise through its glory days, into its
oblivion and transient rebirth when his long-time friend and publishing
partner, Charles Clegg, bought the Virginia City News and
renamed it the Territorial Enterprise. The third volume
is a good general history of the Comstock Lode without resort
to sensationalism. Spine of the first item is slightly faded -
otherwise all in fine condition. (70/100).
493. [COMSTOCK LODE] Ephemera. Early
Mining Deed to a claim
in the Comstock Lode. 4 pp. [one blank]. 13-3/4x8-1/2, laid in
clear plastic holder. Virginia City: S. Wasserman & Co., September
5, 1862. * Superintendent's Office Gould & Curry S. M.
Co. Received from Booth's Mill for Savage Mining Company two sacks
of bullion. One leaf printed on one side only. 3-1/4x8-1/4,
laid in clear plastic holder. Virginia City: Gould & Curry
Co., June 1, 1867. * Territorial Enterprise billhead. One
leaf printed on one side only. 4-3/4x8-1/2, laid in clear plastic
holder. Virginia City: Territorial Enterprise, March 17, 1869.
All items filled out and signed in ink. The mining deed was a
record of transfer of 25 feet in a claim "known as the Birdsall
Company situated and located on the Montour Quartz Lode and lying
south of the El Dorado and west of the Gold & Curry [sic]
claim in the Virginia Mining District". The third item is
a handsome Victorian billhead, partly in color - illustrating
the fine job-printing side of the Territorial Enterprise. Some
wear and tear ot the first item [several linear tears at folds
repaired - most of them with transparent archival tape] - otherwise
in very good condition. The last two items are in fine condition.
(200/300).
494. [COMSTOCK LODE] Waldorf, John Taylor.
A Kid on the Comstock
Lode. Foreword by Dolores Waldorf Bryant. [14], 1-92 pp. Illustrated
with original cartoons by Herb Roth. 11x8-3/4, gray pictorial
cloth with gilt spine title, partially unopened. First edition
in book form designed and printed by Lawton and Alfred Kennedy.
Berkeley: Friends of the Bancroft Library, 1968.
1968 folded brochure about the Friends of the Bancroft Library,
designed and printed by the Kennedys laid in. This brochure lists
the 16 publications of the "Friends" to 1968. A Kid
on the Comstock Lode was the 16th. John Waldorf arrived in
Virginia City in 1873 at the age of three and spent his youth
to the age of sixteen there. In 1903 he wrote recollections of
those years of his childhood for the San Francisco Bulletin.
This is the first reprint and the only printing in book form.
The illustrations are taken from the original publication and
were drawn by Herb Roth who was to become a world famous cartoonist
for the New York World. Fine condition. (40/70).
With Appendix published separately 26 years later
495. DE MASSEY, ERNEST.
A Frenchman in the Gold Rush. The Journal
of Ernest de Massey, Argonaut of 1849. Translated by Marguerite
Eyer Wilbur. [9], 12-183 pp. Three unpaginated plates with illustrations
and one map, two paginated illustrations and one map. 10x7, blue
cloth with gilt spine and cover titles. First edition.
San Francisco: California Historical Society, 1927.
Laid in is a copy of Some Phases of French Society in San
Francisco in the Fifties. Appendix to the Journal of Ernest de
Massey. Translated by Blanche Collet Wagner with an introduction
by Henry Wagner. Reprinted from California Historical Society
Quarterly Vol. XXXII, Number 2, June, 1953. pp. 105-118. Cowan
p.165, Wheat # 60. "Observations and conclusions of a cultivated
man, translated from the original documents" [Wheat]. Both
in near-fine condition. (100/150).
496. DEQUILLE, DAN. [PSEUDONYM OF WILLIAM WRIGHT].
History
of the Big Bonanza: an Authentic Account of the Discovery, History,
and Working of the World Renowned Comstock Silver Lode of Nevada
including the Present Condition of the Various Mines Situated
thereon; Sketches of the Most Prominent Men Interested in Them;
Incidents and Adventures Connected with Mining, the Indians and
the Country; Amusing Stories, Experiences, Anecdotes, etc., etc.,
and a Full Exposition of the Production of Pure Silver. Introductory
by Mark Twain. [7], viii-xvi, 17-569 pp. Double frontispiece and
ninety paginated plates with wood engravings made from photographs
by John S. Noe, and E. Hurd of Virginia City and other photographers.
8-3/4x5-1/2, tan cloth with elaborate gilt spine and cover titles
and decorations stamped in black. First edition.
Hartford: American Publishing Company, 1876.
One page holograph letter of Mark Twain, written from Hartford,
Connecticut, to Dan DeQuille laid in. In this letter Mark Twain
was responding to a letter of Dan DeQuille in which DeQuille confided
his plan to write a pamphlet on the Comstock Lode. In this letter
Mark Twain urged Dan DeQuille to write a book instead, advising
him that there was no money to be made from writing a pamphlet.
There actually was an extensive exchange of correspondence between
the two about this venture which Oscar Lewis describes in his
detailed historical introduction to the reprint edition although
he was apparently not aware of this particular letter. The idea
of writing a pamphlet on the Comstock Lode was first proposed
to DeQuille by John Mackay and other mining moguls of Virginia
City after the second big surge of mining in this area with the
discovery of a particularly rich lode of silver, the "big
bonanza" in 1873.
Mark Twain and Dan DeQuille had been good friends when Mark
also worked on the staff of the Territorial Enterprise in the
early 1860s. Mark Twain left Virginia City and journalism behind
to become a successful writer and Dan DeQuille remained a journeyman
journalist in a city that was to inevitably decline when the mines
did. Mark Twain had just had a trio of sensational literary successes
in the Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, Innocents
Abroad, and Roughing It at the time this project was
suggested by Mackay and so it was logical for DeQuille to write
to Twain for advice. With all the news of sensational silver strikes
on the Comstock Lode and the fabulous fortunes that were being
made in 1873 through 1875, Mark Twain had decided that a book
on that subject would have a big market before he ever heard from
his own friend. In fact he wrote a letter to Dan DeQuille suggesting
that he write it but had not yet mailed it when he received DeQuille's
letter. Before he ever opened the letter he predicted what would
be in it. This coincidence was a quite likely one statistically,
nevertheless it reinforced Mark Twain's belief in extra sensory
perception [termed mental telegraphy at that time] and he cited
this event as an example in an article in Harpers in 1891.
In addition to this letter of Mark Twain, a long, holograph,
two-page letter of Dan DeQuille to "Friend Clark," a
former colleague in Virginia City is laid in. A very poignant
letter with excellent content, DeQuille talks about this book:
"I never saw a proof of my book and have never read it. I
am told that it is full of typographical errors," and about
Mark Twain: "Mark Twain told me that he went over his `Innocents'
thirteen times" and he reflects on the course of his own
life: "I recollect very well when you wanted me to go on
the Bulletin. It probably would have been the best thing I could
have done. Who Knows? I could have been no worse off than I am
now." Also laid in is a photocopy of a two-page letter of
Dan DeQuille to Mark Twain dated February 7, 1876 with content
about this book.
Tipped to p.517 is the second page of a letter signed by Virginia
City mining mogul, John Mackay and a small holograph card to "Dan
DeQuille comps. of J. W. Mackay Dec. 25th, 1878." It was
Mackay and his colleagues who encouraged the writing of this book.
Dan DeQuille dedicated it in turn to John Mackay.
Glued to the front free endpaper is an original photographic
portrait of Dan DeQuille with a window removed from the page to
reveal the writing on the back of the photograph. This handwritten
note identifies the person in the photograph as "Dan DeQuille
associate of Mark Twain in Virginia City, both writing for the
Daily Territorial Enterprise" and is signed by Wells
Drury, an editor of the Territorial Enterprise who knew
Dan DeQuille very well [see item #492]. This protrait is reproduced
as the frontispiece of Washoe Rambles [see item #498]. All in
fine condition except for the Mark Twain letter which has one
dark horizontal band on the back where it was at one time glued
[?] to the front pastedown and the original letter of Dan DeQuille
which is very fragile, split at several folds, and repaired with
non-archival transparent tape. An exact photocopy [actually better
than the original in terms of contrast and readability] and a
typed translation of the script is provided to minimize handling.
(4000/7000).
497. DEQUILLE, DAN. [PSEUDONYM OF WILLIAM WRIGHT].
History
of the Big Bonanza: an Authentic Account of the Discovery, History,
and Working of the World Renowned Comstock Silver Lode of Nevada
including the Present Condition of the Various Mines Situated
thereon; Sketches of the Most Prominent Men Interested in Them;
Incidents and Adventures Connected with Mining, the Indians and
the Country; Amusing Stories, Experiences, Anecdotes, etc., etc.,
and a Full Exposition of the Production of Pure Silver. "Introductory"
by Mark Twain. New introduction by Oscar Lewis. [1 adv.], [7],
viii-xli, [4], 4-439, [1], ii-viii pp. Frontispiece portrait of
Dan DeQuille and 78 illustrations reproduced from the original
edition. 9-1/2x6-1/4, blue cloth with gilt spine title and cover
ornament. Second printing of this edition.
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1947.
"Sold at the Bucket of Blood Saloon in Virginia City"
stamped on the front free endpaper. Reprint of the previous item
with an important historical introduction by Oscar Lewis. Gilt
spine title somewhat rubbed - otherwise in fine condition. (40/70).
498. DEQUILLE, DAN.
Washoe Rambles. Edited and introduced
by Richard E. Lingenfelter. [6], 7-169, [2] pp. Nine unpaginated
plates from various sources. 8-1/2x5-1/2, full tan morocco with
gilt spine title and gilt spine and cover ornaments, partially
unopened. Editor's edition of 50 copies, printed by Westernlore
Press and specially bound.
Los Angeles: Dawson's Book Shop, 1963.
Signed by the editor on the limitation page. These tales of Dan
DeQuille from his early prospecting days were first published
serially in the Golden Era in 1861. Fine condition. (70/100).
499. DEQUILLE, DAN.
Dan DeQuille of the Big Bonanza. [8],
xi-xii, 1-127, [2] pp. Illustrated with three portraits from photographs
and with five pencil sketches by the author. 10x7, linen-backed
decorated boards with gilt spine title, original plain dust jacket.
Limited edition of 650 copies printed by Arlen and Clara Philpott.
San Francisco: The Book Club of California, 1980.
Original prospectus in mailing envelope laid in. The material
in this book was originally published in the Territorial Enterprise.
It has been revised for this publication from a later manuscript
by the author discovered in the California Historical Society
archives by Gary Kurutz. Fine condition. (60/90).
500. DICKENS, CHARLES AND WILKIE COLLINS.
The Wreck of the
Golden Mary. A Saga of the California Gold Rush. [5], 6-90
pp. Wood engravings by Blair Hugh Stanton. 10-1/4x7, paper-backed
marbled boards with spine title printed in white. Limited edition
of 200 copies printed by Lewis and Dorothy Allen. Kentfield: The
Allen Press, 1956.
Fine press reprint of the only Gold Rush story by Charles Dickens,
originally appearing in an English periodical edited by Wilkie
Collins. Fine condition.
(100/150).
501. DOWNEY, JOSEPH T.
Filings from an Old Saw. Reminiscences
of San Francisco and California's Conquest by "Filings"-
Joseph T. Downey. Edited by Fred Blackburn Rogers. [4], v-vi,
[2], 1-170, [1] pp. Frontispiece portrait. 9-1/4x6-1/4, green
cloth with gilt spine title and faint cover decoration. Limited
edition of 750 copies designed by Lawton Kennedy.
San Francisco: John Howell, Publisher, 1956.
This is the first printing in book form of a series of eighteen
articles that ran in San Francisco's Golden Era in 1853.
Although the author was only identified by the pseudonym of "Filings,"
the editor was eventually able to determine his identity as a
seaman from the Portsmouth. Aside from that bit of information,
however, and his name, almost nothing is known about his life
before or after his time in California. Fine condition. (40/70).
502. [GOLD RUSH ARGONAUTS]
First Steamship Pioneers. Edited
by a committee of the Association. [11], ii-viii, [3], 2-393 pp.
Chapter headpiece decorations. 10-1/4x7-3/4, full morocco with
gilt spine title, raised spine bands, and blindstamped spine and
cover decoration, marbled endpapers. First edition printed by
H. S. Crocker & Co. and limited to 100 copies [Berthold, p.
9 - see next item].
San Francisco: First Steamship Pioneers Association, [1874].
Cowan p.212; Wheat #194. This book was published by the First
Steamship Pioneer's Association to honor the twenty-fifth anniversary
of their arrival on the "first steamship" to California
appropriately named the "California" on Feb. 28, 1849.
The ship left New York Oct. 6, 1848 before news of the gold discovery
in California had been officially announced and proceeded to the
Pacific side of the steamship mail service through the Straits
of Magellan, arriving in Panama at the end of January, 1849. By
that time literally hundreds of argonauts [precipitated by the
widely publicized president's message to Congress in December]
were there waiting to catch the "California" to San
Francisco. The ship took on as many passengers as it could and
left Feb. 1 for San Francisco, arriving Feb. 28th. Thereafter
the ship made round-trips between Panama and San Francisco until
some time in 1850. The book is a very elaborate souvenir of the
occasion printed in fine typography on quality paper and bound
in full morocco. The text includes a short history of steam navigation
to the Pacific, a narrative of that first voyage, a descriptive
sketch of San Francisco in 1849 and interesting anecdotes collected
from the membership.
One chapter is devoted to the Pacific Mail Steamship Line which
was responsible for the steamship "California". The
tale of the voyage in the book, however, was narrated by a pioneer
who made the first part of the voyage [to Panama] on another Steamship
Company vessel, the "Falcon", and picked up the "California"
on the Pacific side of Panama as did most of the argonauts. Two
chapters are devoted to this first leg of the trip. Included with
this book is the June 23, 1849 issue of the New York paper, Weekly
Herald which features news from California brought by the
Steamships Oregon, California, and Crescent City, to Panama and
from Panama to New York City by the steamship Falcon. [After arriving
in San Francisco Feb. 28, the crew of the California deserted
and the captain was unable to recruit a crew for the return trip
to Panama until May 1st.] The ship arrived in Panama May 23rd
with the latest news from California which was then brought back
to New York on the "Falcon" [Berthold - see next item].
A somewhat puzzling feature of this book is the presence of
many unexplained blank pages with red borders appearing as if
they were intended for tipped-in illustrations or photographs.
In further confirmation of this is a paragraph in the "Notes
Introductory" devoted to the services of Bradley and Rulofson
ending with the following sentence: "But after saying to
the reader that the illustrations of this work are from
this house, we surely need say no more of the house of Bradley
& Rulofson." There are, however, no illustrations or
photographs of any kind in this copy and the description in Cowan
also fails to note the presence of illustrations. Gary Kurutz,
however, has seen a copy with several tipped-in photographs [personal
communication].
Bookplate of Edward Dean Lyman. The 1849 newspaper is lightly
foxed and worn, the leather covers of the book are modestly scuffed
but otherwise both in very good condition. (300/500).
503. [GOLD RUSH ARGONAUTS] Berthold, Victor, Ph. D.
The Pioneer
Steamer California, 1848-1849. xiv, [1], 2-106 pp. Six unpaginated
plates from various sources. 9-1/2x6-1/4, blue cloth with paper
spine label, slipcase. Limited edition of 550 copies.
Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1932.
Norris 275. This is the history of the first steamship to California
from the standpoint of the ship rather than the pioneers. The
wealth of information in this book was laboriously accumulated
from newspapers, government reports, logs, etc. and is the source
for much of the commentary on the previous item. Slipcase worn
but book in fine condition. (150/250).
504. [GOLD RUSH IN CENTURY MAGAZINE] Thirteen articles about the
American conquest and Gold Rush of California removed from the
Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine. Numerous woodcut
illustrations throughout the text. 9-1/2x6-1/2, removed and rebound
together in red buckram with gilt cover title.
New York The Century Co., 1882-1891.
Articles removed from Vol. XXV, XLI and XLII. They include some
of the more significant periodical literature on the subject of
early American history in California by authors such as John Bidwell,
John S. Hittell [the article in which he first proposed the date
of Jan. 24 instead of Jan. 19, 1848 as the date of the gold discovery],
Charles Gillsepie, Roger Baldwin, and John Charles and Jessie
Benton Fremont. Fine condition (150/250).
505. [GOLD RUSH DOCUMENT] Holograph document of sale of a business
by Lemuel Cooledge to Cornelius Cooledge. 1 page. 9-1/4x7-1/2,
laid in clear plastic holder.
Murderer's Bar: Lemuel Cooledge, Nov. 4, 1852.
Gudde lists three Murderer's Bars in three counties. There is
no indication in this codument as to which one this was. Left
edge irregular as if removed from a book, many creases from previous
folding, irregular darkening - otherwise very legible and in very
good condition. (150/250).
506. [GOLD RUSH DOCUMENT] Indenture for sale of an undivided one-third
interest in a parcel of land near the town of Mariposa. 4 pp.
13-1/2x8-1/4, folded document.
Mariposa: County Recorder, 1856.
Unlike the holograph document executed in 1852 [see item #505],
this document [executed in 1856] is on a printed form and witnessed
by the Mariposa County recorder also on a printed form. Few short
tears at folds - otherwise in very good condition. (150/250).
507. [GOLD RUSH LETTER - FROM DOWNIEVILLE] Howard, Joseph. Holograph
letter of Joseph Howard to his brother in Philadelphia. 3 pp.
[out of four]. 10x8, blue wove paper folded to 3x5 for mailing
with mailing address, Downieville postmark, and part of wax seal
on outside of folded letter. Downieville: August 14, 1852.
Excellent content. He sends his brother 31-1/4 oz. of gold dust,
asks him to take it to the mint for him and allows him to keep
anything over $550 for himself. Tells about his most recent mining
claim and problems with water as well as a former mining claim
which is producing very well for the party that bought it from
him. He takes that philosophically, however, and expresses a common
philosophy among the gold seekers [and Las Vegas gamblers today],
"There is no use to cry over spilt milk. I am for a pile
[a fortune] or nothing". He also expresses a very common
feeling among the American miners about foreign miners, "The
Chinese do not trouble me as they will not work in the same kind
of diggins, although they do take out a considerable gold from
Unckle [sic] Sam - which they have no right too [sic]. Since I
have been in this country, I have seen every kind of the human
family". Very legible letter. Three small defects in the
paper: two at confluence of folds and one at place of wax seal
- otherwise in very good condition. (300/500).
Placerville mortician's record 1858-1864
508. [GOLD RUSH MORTICIAN'S RECORD] Townsend, C. H.
Record
of Persons buried by C. H. Townsend, Sexton and Undertaker - Placerville,
Call [sic]. 38 pp. of holograph entries. 11-3/4x7-1/4, leather-backed,
marbled boards. Placerville: C. H. Townsend, 1858-1864.
This is a standard ledger-type book with blank pages. The first
20 pages are filled with holograph entries from the owner's mortuary
business in Placerville and two additional pages from a later
time in Santa Cruz. The following information was recorded for
each person buried by this mortician: Name, place of origin, date
of death, age at death, cause of death, grave site, and remarks.
These records convey important information about the Gold Rush
not readily available elsewhere. The number of infants and children
that died is striking, as is the number that died of infections
that rarely cause death today, such as consumption [tuberculosis],
cholera, small pox [completely eradicated from the world now],
putrid sore throat, hooping [sic] cough, scarlet fever, etc. The
cause of death of one person who died at age 56 was given as "old
age." There were also several who were murdered or died of
accidents associated with mining. The last 18 pages are financial
records of some kind and there are many blank pages in between
these two records. Fascinating item of Gold Rush ephemera. Laid
in is a typed note from Bob Chandler of the Wells Fargo History
Room giving brief biographical information about C. H. Townsend
and some photocopies of advertisements related to him. The leather
spine of the ledger book is badly chipped and cracked - otherwise
in good condition with all the records intact and very legible.
(800/1200).
509. [GOLD RUSH MUSIC]
The Gold Rush Song Book, Comprising
a Group of Twenty-five Authentic Ballads as They Were Sung by
the Men Who Dug for Gold in California during the Period of the
Great Gold Rush of 1849 with Music. Compiled by Eleanora Black
and Sydney Robertson. [3], iv-ix, [1], 1-55, [1] pp. Decorations
by Mallette Dean. 8x10-3/4, tan buckram-backed green linen with
gilt cover title and ornaments.
San Francisco: The Colt Press, 1940.
The editors of this Gold Rush song book did their best to ensure
the authenticity of their selections and to enhance their attractiveness
with the charming wood engravings in color by Mallette Dean. Slight
soiling of covers, one corner bumped - otherwise in near-fine
condition. (50/80).
510. [GOLD RUSH MUSIC] [Stone, John A.]
Put's Golden Songster
Containing the Largest and Most Popular Collection of California
Songs Ever Published. [2], 3-64 pp. 5-3/4x4, original, pictorial
wrappers with printed cover title.
San Francisco: D. Appleton & Co., [1858].
Wheat 162. "Much of the flavor of the gold days as well
as the era's pathos and humor, pervades these ephemeral pieces"
[Wheat]. Very good condition. (100/150).
511. [GOLD RUSH MUSIC] Meighan, Thaddeus W.
California As It
Is. Comic Song, Written by Thaddeus W. Meighan, and Sung to Over
Fifty Thousand Persons at the American Museum and Elsewhere, by
Pete Morris, the Inimitable Comic Vocalist. Six pages. 13x10,
disbound.
New York: William Hall & Son, 1849.
This was California gold panning by those who stayed behind.
A fine example of satirical verse set to music to amuse the home-bodies.
Apparently removed from a bound volume because the left edges
are irregular and chipped with remnants of glue and cords - otherwise
in fine condition. (150/250).
Excellent collection of Gold Rush news reports
512. [GOLD RUSH NEWS] Six items reporting news from California
about the Gold Rush:
1) The Literary World. 24 pp.[pp. 917-940]. 11-1/2x8-3/4,
unbound. New York, Dec. 16, 1848.
2) Hunt's Merchant Magazine and Commercial Review. [4],
18-128, [16] pp. Frontispiece portrait and one wood engraving.
9-1/4x5-3/4, printed wrappers. New York: Freeman Hunt, January,
1849.
3) The Illustrated London News. pp. 19-20 [2 pp.]. Three
wood engravings and one map. 16x11, single sheet. London: London
News, Jan. 13, 1849.
4) New York Daily Tribune. 4 pp. 22x17, unbound. New York:
New York Tribune, January 18, 1849.
5) New York Weekly Tribune. 6 pp. large wood engraving
of San Francisco on 1st page. 20x15, disbound. New York: New York
Tribune. September 8, 1849.
6) New York Weekly Tribune. 8 pp. 21x15, unbound. New York:
New York Tribune, Oct. 13, 1849.
News reports about the daily discoveries of gold in California
really capture the euphoric ambience of that time better than
almost anything else. News of the gold discovery started reaching
the East Coast as early as August of 1848. However, official confirmation
from the Federal government did not come until December 1848.
Much of the first page of the December 1848 issue of The Literary
World is devoted to news of the Gold Rush with an additional
paragraph on p. 925 making the statement that "the people
are running over the country and picking gold out of the earth,
here and there, just as a thousand hogs let loose in a forest
would root up ground nuts". Hunt's Merchant Magazine
has a glowing ten-page article on the Gold Rush with such comments
as "Thus the rumor which came at first, indefinite and vague,
has burst forth into a vivid and golden reality...". The
Illustrated London News has a crude map of California showing
the general location of the gold fields copied from G. G. foster's
Gold Regions of California... as is much of the text [see
item # 456, catalog 2], and a drawing of a "lump of gold
just received from California" although in typical British
style the editor was much more cautious about the reality. The
January 18, 1849 issue of the New York Tribune devoted
almost all of its front page to extracts from Senator Benton's
speech in Congress about land titles in California and New Mexico
in which Benton expresses his misgivings about the gold finds
in California: "I am a friend to a gold currency but not
to gold mining. That is a pursuit which the experience of nations
shows to be both impoverishing and demoralizing to a nation. I
regret that we have these mines in California and I am for getting
rid of them as soon as possible." This speech was made before
he learned that his son-in-law, John Fremont, was the new owner
of property with the richest mines in California. As a matter-of-fact,
his forboding of disaster from the pursuit of gold was fulfilled
in the course of events in the life of his daughter and her famous
husband [just as an aside I can't pass up - how many newspapers
today would take up the majority of the front page with verbatim
quotes from a senator's speech? This newspaper is also of interest
for the several advertisements for ships departing for California.
The September 8th issue of the New-York Weekly Tribune
is valued especially for the large front-page wood cut of San
Francisco drawn and engraved expressly for the paper by George
Baker. Two columns on page five are also devoted to news from
California. The New York Weekly Tribune for October 13,
1849 devoted the entire front page and the fourth page to news
from California including a report on the state constitutional
convention. Some pages splitting at major folds, the spine of
the second item is cracking, and there is modest wear and foxing
of the last item - otherwise all in good to very good condition.
(250/400).
513. [GOLD RUSH NEWS] France.
Croquis Californiens, par Cham.
[Sketches from California by Cham] Two leaves removed from the
French periodical, Le Charivani. 14-1/2x9-1/2, disbound,
hinge or corner mounted and matted. Paris: Le Charivani, 1849.
Three satirical drawings about the California Gold Rush on two
leaves. Each leaf mounted and matted. Translation of the French
captions provided. One is remarkable for the canny French interpretation
of American philosophy as expressed in the Gold Rush. The drawing
shows two parties mining on a rocky eminence. The miner at the
bottom is lighting the fuse to a keg of explosives in his tunnel
just below the miners who are working in their mine on top of
the eminence. One terrified miner is running down the hill asking
the lower miner what the hell he thinks he's doing? [the equivalent
in more formal French]. The latter cooly requests the other to
leave him alone because he is only doing what he needs to do.
A marvelous insight to a 19th century European interpretation
of "rugged American individualism." Another cartoon
satirizes the extravagant reports of gold discoveries in California
and the third the desperate shortage of women in California. Mats
slightly worn - otherwise in fine condition. (200/300).
514. [GOLD RUSH PHOTOGRAPHS] Four original albumen photographs
of Gold Rush scenes.
1) Photograph of the Gold Rush town of Coulterville. 4-3/4x7-3/4,
mounted on cabinet card without attribution, no date [c. 1860?].
2) Photograph of the Young America Mining and Mill site in Sierra
County. 7-1/2x9-1/2, mounted on stiff board without attribution,
no date [c. 1880?].
3) Photograph of a business block in Red Bluff. 6-3/4x9-3/4, unmounted,
no date [c.1880?]
4) Photograph of three miners with a donkey loaded with supplies
and equipment on a dirt road in the mountains near a small collection
of frame buildings. 4x6, unmounted, laid in clear plastic holder.
No attribution, no date.
Slight surface abrasion, photograph of miners slightly faded,
rubbed and has one chip from the lower edge - otherwise in very
good condition. (150/250).
515. [GOLD RUSH PHOTOGRAPHS] Heyman, Therese Thau.
Mirror of
California: Daguerrotypes. 32 pp. Numerous illustrations from
daguerrotypes. 8-1/2x9-3/4, stiff pictorial wrappers with cover
title. Oakland: The Oakland Museum, 1973. * The American West.
Vol. IV, Number 3. [3], 4-80 pp. Numerous illustrations from
photographs. 11x8-1/2, pictorial wrappers with spine and cover
titles. Palo Alto: American West Publishing Co., August, 1967.
The first item is a catalog that was made for an exhibit of California
daguerrotypes at the Oakland Museum that ran from November 6,
1973 through January 27, 1974. Since the earliest photographic
technique used in California was the daguerrotype, it was of considerable
importance in recording early scenes in California. The Oakland
Museum not only had a good collection of these early California
rarities, but many others were loaned to them from institutions
or private collectors throughout the United States for this exhibit.
Out of these they picked some of the most significant ones to
reproduce in this catalog. One of the most spectacular is the
six-panel fold-out panorama of San Francisco [see items #368 and
369 for others]. The second item contains two articles on early
California under the United States illustrated from old daguerrotypes.
Photographs of miners at work in the placers are relatively rare
but these two publication have some good ones. Together these
two items pobably provide the most complete presentation of California
Gold Rush daguerrotypes available. Both items in near-fine condition.
(100/150).
516. [GOLD RUSH PHOTOGRAPHS]
A Camera in the Gold Rush.
Thirteen 4 pp. folders. An illustration from an old photograph
in each folder. 8-1/4x10, folders all laid in cloth chemise and
matching morocco and cloth slipcase with gilt-stamped morocco
spine labels. San Francisco: The Book Club of California, 1946.
This is one of the most highly sought-after Book Club of California
Keepsakes for good reason. Each folder contains a superb collotype
reproduction of an original photograph by pioneer California photographer
Robert H. Vance. Although Vance used the daguerrotype technique
on his initial trip in 1849 and on his second visit in 1852, few
of them have survived. In the later 1850s he adopted the newer
techniques of wet plate photography and printing on paper. All
of the photographs represented in these folders were made from
1858 to 1862 by the newer techniques. They show the state of the
mining camps and the mining operations of that relatively late
period of the Gold Rush very well. Light wear of leather spine
- otherwise in fine condition. (100/150).
Two Watkins photographs of hydraulic mining
517. [GOLD RUSH PHOTOGRAPH] Watkins, Carleton. Original albumen
print of hydraulic mining at North Bloomfield [Malakoff Diggins
State Park, Nevada County]. 12x20-1/2, mounted on stiff board,
and matted. [San Francisco: Carleton Watkins, c.1875].
Valuable photographic documentation of the last and most destructive
technique of placer mining. Dramatic vista of the North Bloomfield
hydraulic mine in operation. Slight rippling of the print from
original mounting - otherwise in fine condition with the original
quality of the tones and contrast well preserved. (800/1200).
518. [GOLD RUSH PHOTOGRAPH] Watkins, Carleton. Original albumen
print of hydraulic mining at North Bloomfield [Malakoff Diggins
State Park]. 12-1/2x20-1/2, mounted on stiff board, and matted.
[San Francisco: Carleton Watkins, c.1875].
A closer-up view of the operation showing six water cannons trained
on the gravels of the diggins. Slight rippling of the print from
original mounting - otherwise in fine condition with the original
quality of a Carlton Watkins photograph well preserved.
(800/1200).
519. HITTELL, JOHN S.
Mining in the Pacific States of North
America. [5], vi-viii, [1], 10-224 pp. 6-1/2x4-1/2, red cloth
with gilt spine and cover titles. First edition.
San Francisco: H. H. Bancroft and Company, 1861.
Cowan p.284 [Cowan describes 12 pp. of adv. at the end of his
copy not present in this one]; Norris 1636; Wheat 99 [commentary].
A very useful handbook of accurate information about mining in
California up to 1861, including its history, methods, locations,
the minerals, etc. Covers modestly worn and soiled, library numbers
on back of title page but no library stamp, card or other identification
- otherwise in very good condition. (150/250).
Leavitt's Almanack with Map of the gold region
of California
520. LEAVITT, DUDLEY. Leavitt's Farmer's Almanack [sic]
and Miscellaneous Year Book for the Year of Our Lord 1853: Being
the First after Bissextile, or Leap Year, and Until July the Fourth,
the Seventy-seventh of American Independence. Calculated as to
the Latitude and Longitude, so as to Answer for All the New England
States. Containing a New Map of California. 48 pp. Full page
map of the mining region of California. 7-1/2x4-3/4, printed wrappers.
Boston: Edward Livermore, 1852.
The map is No. 212 in Wheat, Maps of the California Gold Region.
The author of this popular New England almanac, since its inception
in 1797, died in the year that this issue was published at the
age of 80. However, he left a complete manuscript from which this
was printed. In addition to the map, one page is devoted to a
brief description of some of the important cities of California.
In his introduction to this almanac, the author states, "within
a few past years the tide of emigration has been so great from
the New England States to the shores of the Pacific, that at the
present time there is scarcely a family in our midst but what
is represented by some one or more of its members or relatives
in the golden region. We have judged it not inappropriate to insert
in this number of the Almanac a new, correct and reliable map
of California drawn and engraved expressly for this work, showing
the principal cities and towns, distances between which may be
found by the scale on the map..." Very good condition. (100/150).
George Lyman, M.D.
George Lyman was an outstanding physician and teacher, an
avid collector and author of Western Americana, a devoted family
man, and San Francisco bon vivant. Two of the books he authored
were concerned with the Comstock Lode. His interest in that area
and era came naturally. He was born in Virginia City in 1882 and
spent his childhood among the ghosts and living legends of that
fabled city. Later in his exuberant youth, he attended Stanford
University, then Columbia University where he studied medicine
and was awarded an M.D. in 1905 at the age of 23. Further study
in Europe in the emerging field of pediatrics made him an expert
in that specialty which he then practiced for the rest of his
life in the city of San Francisco. He was also recruited for the
clinical faculty of his alma mater, Stanford University and taught
medical students and young graduates. His collection of Western
Americana was remarkable both for its size and the rare and unusual
items. As is evident from some of the illustrations in his authored
books that are labeled "from a painting in the collection
of the author", he didn't confine his collecting to books
alone. After his death, his wife interpreted a statement that
he had made to her in the past that she was to destroy all his
personal papers, correspondence and manuscripts after his death.
Unfortunately, for historians and all collectors of Western Americana,
she carried out her interpretation of his wish with compulsive
thoroughness and few of his records have survived. The most tragic
item to be destroyed was a sixteen volume manuscript for a bibliography
of California that he was working on at the time of his death.
Those who were privileged to see it during his lifetime considered
it to be superior to Cowan's.
521. LYMAN, GEORGE.
John Marsh, Pioneer. The Life Story of
a Trail-blazer on Six Frontiers. [6], vii-xii, [6], 3-394
pp. Frontispiece portrait, eighteen unpaginated plates with twenty-three
illustrations from various sources and four inserted facsimiles.
8-1/2x5-3/4, two tone red cloth with gilt-titled black morocco
spine label, pictorial endpapers. Limited edition of 150 copies.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1930.
Signed by the author on the limitation page. A carefully researched
and written biography of one of the early Americans to settle
in California before the conquest. John Marsh, a graduate of Harvard
University who had never studied medicine, posed as a physician
when he arrived in California. An intelligent, shrewd, and parsimonious
man, his knowledge was far enough ahead of the isolated residents
of California that he became a very successful practitioner. As
a result of wise investment of the earnings from his medical practice
in his ranch, he also became quite wealthy. This is the first
and only biography of this genuine, eccentric, American pioneer
in California. Fine condition. (200/300).