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522. LYMAN, GEORGE D.
John Marsh, Pioneer. The Life Story of
a Trail-blazer on Six Frontiers. [6], vii-xii, [4], 3-394
pp. Frontispiece portrait and eighteen unpaginated plates with
twenty-three illustrations from various sources. 8-1/2x5-3/4,
navy-blue cloth with gilt spine and cover titles, pictorial endpapers,
pictorial dust jacket. First trade edition.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1930.
The first trade edition of the previous item. This was Edward
F. O'Days copy with his name written on the front free endpaper.
Laid in is a T. L. S. of George Lyman to Edward F. O'Day dated
March 21, 1928. O'Day was a lifelong journalist and editor of
The Record in San Francisco. In this letter, Lyman answers
a question previously posed to him by O'Day about the nature of
the illness that George Hearst [father of William Randolph Hearst]
developed in the Rocky Mountains when he joined the Gold Rush
to California in 1850. It is of interest that Lyman attributed
the illness [called "mountain fever" by Lyman] to the
altitude when the agent causing Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever [the
most likely illness] had been identified as an unusual bacteria
as early as 1907. Near fine. (80/120).
With T.L.S. of Lyman to Edward F. O'Day
523. LYMAN, GEORGE D.
The Saga of the Comstock Lode. Boom Days
in Virginia City. [6], vii-xii, [2], 399 pp. Sixteen unpaginated
plates with twenty-five illustrations from various sources. 9x6,
navy blue cloth with gilt spine and cover titles, pictorial endpapers,
pictorial dust jacket. First edition. New York, London: Charles
Scribner's Sons, 1934.
Signed by the author and a T.L.s. of the author to Edward F.
O'Day, thanking him for his enthusiastic review of this book,
laid in. A spirited account of the hectic heyday of mining in
Virginia City. It is of some psychological interest, perhaps,
that the style of the author changed so dramatically between his
first book, which was a biography, and his two books on the subject
of the Comstock Lode. His biography of John Marsh, a staid and
well educated New Englander, was quite scholarly and conventional.
The books relating to the Comstock Lode and wild gold mining stock
speculation in San Francisco on the other hand were rather frenetic
and flamboyant. In both instances the style seemed to mirror the
subject matter more than the personality of the author. Apparently,
like a good actor in a play he became sufficiently immersed in
the subjects of his books that it affected his style of writing.
Fine condition. (80/120).
NO LOT. Lyman, George. The Sponge: Its Effect on the Martyrdom
of James King of William, the Formation of the San Francisco Vigilance
Committee of 1856, the Execution of Casey and Cora for Murder
and the Trial of Edward McGowan for Complicity. [see item
#572 under Vigilance Committee]
524. LYMAN, GEORGE.
Ralston's Ring. California Plunders the
Comstock Lode. [6], vii-xii, [2], 368 pp. Sixteen unpaginated
plates with twenty-three illustrations from various sources. 9x6,
red cloth with gilt spine and cover titles, pictorial endpapers,
pictorial dust jacket. First edition. New York: Charles Scribner's
Sons, 1937.
Alfred Sutro's copy with his leather bookplate. The following
items are laid in: a business card of the author in an envelope
with Sutro's name and address written on the front; a prospectus
for this book from Newbegin's Book Shop, a review of the book
clipped from the New York Times; and a review clipped from
the Saturday Review of Literature. Although both reviewers
panned Dr. Lyman's literary excesses, and grammatical gaffes,
the author of the one for the Saturday Review of Literature
ended on a high note of praise: "Yet one can easily forgive
the defects for the splendor of the tale and the energy of its
telling. It represents a type of history all too little written,
the true history of America, in which the driving of a shaft can
be as eventful as a battle and the closing of a contract as important
as the signing of a treaty." This is Lyman's story of the
titanic struggle between two indominatable personalities of the
Comstock lode, Adolph Sutro and William Ralston. Overly dramatic?
Perhaps, but no one has recounted the facts or captured the spirit
of those maniacal times any better than George Lyman. Fine condition.
(80/20).
A Lyman, Grabhorn, and Gold Rush rarity
525. LYMAN, GEORGE.
The Book and the Doctor. [5], vi-xxix,
[4] pp. Illustrated by two drawings by Valenti Angelo. 9-1/2x6,
paper-covered boards with paper cover label. Limited edition of
50 copies printed by the Grabhorn Press.
San Francisco: Privately published, 1933.
Grabhorn 198. In this book Dr. Lyman tells the story of his research
into Dr. Wierzbicki and his very rare book about the Gold Rush
for his introduction to the 1933 Grabhorn reprint. This is a very
rare Grabhorn Press, Gold Rush, Valenti Angelo and George Lyman
collectible all in one - and in fine condition. (150/250).
Two signed presentation publications
526. LYMAN, GEORGE.
The Scalpel under Three Flags in California.
[3], 4-67 pp. Four unpaginated plates with illustrations from
various sources. 10x6-1/2, navy-blue cloth with gilt cover title.
First edition. San Francisco: California Historical Society, 1925.
* The First Native-Born Californian Physician. [2], 3-12,
[1] pp. Two paginated plates with illustrations from photographs
and one facsimile of a Mariano Vallejo manuscript. 10x7, printed
stiff wrappers. San Francisco: California Historical Society,
1925. * Vascular Occlusion in Diphtheria. 11 pp. 7-1/4x4-1/4,
printed wrappers. San Francisco: California and Western Medicine,
1928.
Signed presentation inscriptions in the first two items. The
first one was presented to Alfred Sutro and has his paper book
plate. Part of this material was previously published in California
and Western Medicine. The second item is the story of Platon
Vallejo, son of Mariano Guadelupe Vallejo [see item 265, catalog
# 2]. The third item is a medical article by Dr. Lyman which adequately
demonstrates his competence as a scientific observor, an interpreter
of clinical findings in his young patients, and a writer who could
communicate his observations and reflections in precise and parsimonious
prose. It merited an honorable mention in Clinical Prize competition.
Together three items - all in fine condition. (100/150).
527. [MARSHALL, JAMES] Parsons, George Frederick.
The Life
and Adventures of James W. Marshall, the Discoverer of Gold in
California. [3], 4-188 pp. Frontispiece portrait of James
Marshall. 6-1/2x4-1/2, purple cloth with gilt cover title. First
edition.
Sacramento: Privately published, 1870.
Laid in is a calling card of Mrs. I. W. Hellman, Jr. with uninterpretable
script on it. I. W. Hellman was a successful merchant, banker
and investor in real estate in California. He was made president
of the Nevada Bank which eventually became Wells Fargo Bank. Cowan
p.475; Howes F105; Wheat 153. This was the book that James Marshall
engaged George Parsons, editor of the Sacramento Record
to write and then had published privately to aid his cause in
securing a pension from the government for his role in the gold
discovery [see item # 632 in catalog 2]. Fading of spine - otherwise
in fine condition. (150/250).
528. [NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS] [Brannan, Samuel] Scott, Reva.
Samuel Brannan and the Golden Fleece: A Biography. [6],
1-462 pp. Frontispiece portrait and twelve unpaginated plates
with fifteen illustrations from various sources. 8-1/4x5-1/2,
b;ue cloth with spine title in yellow, one endpaper map, pictorial
dust jacket. First printing. New York: The MacMillan Company,
1944. * Stellman, Louis J. Sam Brannan, Builder of San Francisco:
A Biography. [13], 14-254 pp. 8x5-1/2, yellow cloth with printed
spine title, pictorial dust jacket. First edition. New York: Exposition
Press, [1953].
Signed presentation inscription of the author on front free endpaper
of the first item. Two biographies of one of the pioneers of newspaper
publishing in San Francisco who was also one of its most colorful
characters. Samuel Brannan was a Mormon leader in New York when
Joseph Smith was murdered in Illinois and the Mormons made their
plans to migrate west. A plan was developed for Brannan to sail
to California with eastern Mormons to scout out that territory
for Mormon conquest and settlement and to join Brigham Young somewhere
in the West. Once he landed in California in 1846, however, Brannan
never left. He found that he loved the land more than his religion
and he certainly liked his independence more than he liked being
a minion of Brigham Young. While in New York Brannan published
a Mormon paper. He brought the press with him to California with
the same object in mind. He also brought his 19 year old gentile
printer, Edward Kemble and after setting up the press and doing
job printing for a time, they began to publish the first San Francisco
newspaper, The California Star on a regular basis in January
1847 [see item #533]. Brannan soon became involved in many other
business schemes and left the publishing to Kemble who bought
Brannan out and became famous as the "boy publisher"
of California [see item #535]. Dust jacket of the first item slightly
worn and chipped - otherwise both in near-fine condition. (50/80).
Fourth issue of the third newspaper in California
529. [NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS]
Alta California. Vol. I,
No. 4. 2 pp. 18-1/4x11-1/4, unbound and laid in clear plastic
holder.
San Francisco: Alta California, January 25, 1849.
Edward Kemble with the help of some friends bought out the first
and second newspapers in California [Californian and California
Star] and published a paper with the combined titles for a
few issues before launching the third newspaper under the new
title of Alta California. The Alta California was
inaugurated on January 4, 1849 and continued to be published for
42 years. Kemble's two partners in this publication were Edward
Gilbert and George C. Hubbard. In contrast to the even-tempered
Kemble, Gilbert was emotionally volatile and was killed in a duel
with state senator James Denver [the Denver for whom the city
was to be named] in 1852. Hubbard sold his interest in the paper
after only a few months and a year later froze to death while
on a journey in the west. The fourth issue still contains the
original prospectus for the Alta California, and many interesting
news items including the arrest, trial, and execution of the "San
Miguel murderers" in an astonishing time of a few days. The
Alta matter-of-factly comments at the end of the report
of shootings and executions, "Thus the five are disposed
of." On the front page is an official notice of an offer
of clemency by Commodore Thomas Ap Jones to navy deserters who
return to their ships. A Postscript at the bottom of the second
page announced that General [Zachary] Taylor was elected president
and that General Kearney had died [age 54]. The newly elected
president was also to die in a brief time [of cholera in his second
year of office]. Perhaps Hobbes' infamous assessment of life was
appropriate for this time. The sheet is uniformly tanned from
age and the top and bottom edges are irregular [probably as issued
- the sheet does not appear torn] but overall this is a very-well
preserved newspaper in near-fine condition.
Included with this is an 1853 issue of the Alta California
to illustrate the much larger format [4 pp. 20x27]. Demonstrating
the speed of success was the fact that this increase in size was
made only six months after the inaugural issue. This later issue
also contains some interesting items such as announcement of the
arrival of Lola Montez by ship and a commentary on the sorry state
of medical practice in California where many of the practitioners
had no formal medical education and no license. Few small tears
at edges - otherwise in fine condition.
Also included is an original billhead of the Alta California
Newspaper and Job Printing Office with proprietors listed as E.
Gilbert, E. C. Kemble, J. E. Durivage and E. Conner and dated
September 15, 1851. [This was the year before Gilbert was killed
in a duel]. The address is given as Portsmouth Square and The
Daily Alta California, The Weekly Alta California and
Job Printing are all listed on the billhead. It is made out to
the Sheriff's Office for printing of court cases for a sum of
$98.00. Few rust spots from old paper clip - otherwise in fine
condition. (800/1200).
530. [NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS]
The Californian, Volume I.
Facsimile Reproductions of Thirty-eight Numbers, a Prospectus,
and Various Extras and Proclamations, Printed at Monterey between
August 15, 1846 and May 6, 1847. Introduction by George C.
Hammond, Director Emeritus, The Bancroft Library, University of
California, Berkeley. [12], i-xvii, [3], 1-164, [8] pp. Frontispiece
portrait and one unpaginated plate with another portrait. 8-1/2x12-1/4,
red cloth with gilt spine and cover titles and cover ornament
printed in black. First edition designed and printed by Lawton
and Alfred Kennedy.
[San Francisco]: John Howell - Books, 1971.
Facsimile of the entire first volume of the first newspaper in
California started by Walter Colton, Chaplain U.S.N. and Alcalde
of Monterey. [see item #531 for an original issue] Fine condition.
(50/80).
Ninth issue of the first California newspaper
531. [NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS]
The Californian, Volume I,
No. 9. 4 pp. 12 1/8x8-1/4, disbound and laid in clear plastic
protector.
Monterey: Colton & Semple, October 10, 1846.
Capt. Wm. Mervine's signature at the top of the page. Capt. Mervine
was the naval officer that Commodore Sloat assigned to occupy
Monterey on July 7, 1846. Mervine also participated in the hostilities
in Southern California later in October. Interesting issue with
news of the arrival of American emigrants in Sacramento, dissension
among the Mormons in San Francisco, stealing of horses from Carmel
[mission] by Indians, an elaborate and pejorative justification
for the war with Mexico, an advertisement for sale of a home and
property in Monterey by David Spence, former Alcalde of Monterey
and large landowner [see item #101, catalog 2] and more. Eleven
pinholes at the lefthand margin presumably from previous sewing
[but no glue and edges pristine]; the top appears to have been
trimmed about -1/4 inch [perhaps when bound] since the tallest
letters in Capt. Mervine's signature appear to have been cut cleanly
off; few small brown stains in right blank margin - otherwise
in near-fine condition. (800/1200).
532. [NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS]
California Weekly Courier
Vol I - Number 3. 4 pp. 21x13, double glazed and framed to
make all four pages visible.
San Francisco: James M. Crane and Francis W. Rice, August 1,
1850.
The history of this early but short-lived newspaper in Gold Rush
San Francisco is amusingly related by Kemble [see item #535] who
obviously was concerned about the potential competition when Mssrs.
Crane and Rice first announced their intention to publish in rather
grandiose terms. Fortunately for Kemble's enterprise, the transportation
of the printing equipment for the rival's paper took six months
longer than expected and so when the California Weekly Courier
finally appeared in print the publisher's credibility was already
in jeopardy. Despite this disadvantage, it actually made a valiant
run of it as witnessed by this issue. Much more complete coverage
of the news is provided than in other newspapers and especially
news from the gold regions. This issue relates in considerable
detail the outbreaks of intense anti-foreigner activities in the
mining districts as well as describing the luck or lack thereof
of gold mining in the various areas. Despite this good coverage
of the news, the paper lasted only about 1-1/2 years. One large
brown liquid [coffee?] stain and one corner chipped - complete
legibility preserved - over all in very good condition. (200/300).
533. [NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS]
The California Star. Yerba
Buena and San Francisco. Volume I, 1847-1848, A Reproduction in
Facsimile. Introduced by Fred Blackburn Rogers. [4], v-xiii,
[1], 1-212 pp. Three illustrations with four portraits including
one on the title page of Samuel Brannan. 14-1/2x10, green cloth
with gilt spine title and cover ornament. First edition. Berkeley:
Howell-North Books, 1965.
Reprint of the first year of this important California newspaper
including the advance extra which appeared on October 24, 1846,
over two months before the first regular issue. The Star
was the second paper published in California and the first in
Yerba Buena/San Francisco. Valuable historical introduction by
Fred Blackburn Rogers. Fine condition. (50/80).
534. [NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS] Journalism in California. Bruce,
John. Gaudy Century. The Story of San Francisco's Hundred Years
of Robust Journalism. Introduced by Joseph Henry Jackson.
[6], vii-xvii, [3], 3-302 pp. 8-1/4x5-1/2, gray linen with gilt
spine title and decoration, pictorial dust jacket. First printing.
New York: Random House, [1948]. * Leach, Frank A. Recollections
of a Newspaper Man. A Record of Life and Events in California.
[14], 1-416 pp. Frontispiece portrait and twelve unpaginated plates
with sixteen illustrations from various sources. 9x6, red cloth
with gilt spine and cover titles. First edition. San Francisco:
Samuel Levinson, Publisher, 1917. * Young, John P. Journalism
in California. Pacific Coast and Exposition Biographies. [4],
i-x, [1], 2-362 pp. Frontispiece and fifty unpaginated plates
from a variety of sources. 9x6, gray cloth with gilt spine and
cover titles, marbled endpapers. San Francisco: Chronicle Publishing
Company, [1915].
Together three volumes on California journalism. Second volume
with signed presentation inscription of the author. All in fine
condition. (70/100).
535. [NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS] Kemble, Edward C.
A History
of California Newspapers, 1846 - 1858. [8], 9-398, [2] pp.
Frontispiece and one paginated plate from old daguerrotypes. 9x6,
orange cloth with paper spine label, pictorial endpapers, pictorial
dust jacket. First edition limited to 750 copies. Los Gatos: The
Talisman Press, 1962.
In 1850 at the age of 22, when Kemble was preparing to leave
San Francisco on a trip to the eastern United States, he was feted
by his colleagues and friends as the "father of journalism
in California" at a grand banquet at Delmonicos. Indeed,
he deserved the title. His youth merely matched the age of California
journalism. Arriving in San Francisco with his mentor, Samuel
Brannan, in 1846, he participated in the inauguration of the second
newspaper in California, The California Star [see item
#533] which he later bought from Brannan and merged with the first
newspaper, The Californian [see items #530 and 531] to
form the Alta California [see item #529] that was to remain
preeminent in California journalism for many years. This was only
the beginning of his career, however, and he was associated with
the formation and editing of numerous other papers in California.
At the time that he wrote this history as a supplement to the
Sacramento Union of December 25, 1858, no one was better qualified
to write it. This is the first reprint in book form and it remains
a standard authority on the subject. Fine condition (50/80).
Three volumes by or about Fremont Older:
two are signed association copies
536. [NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS] Older Fremont.
My Own Story.
[5], 18-184 pp. Frontispiece portrait. 9x6, stiff, printed wrappers.
First edition. Oakland: The Post-Enquirer Publishing Co. 1925.
* Older, Fremont My Own Story. [4], v-xx, [2], 1-340 pp.
8-1/2x5-3/4, blue cloth with gilt spine title and blind-stamped
cover title. First printing of the new edition, revised. New York:
The MacMillan Company, 1926. * Wells, Evelyn. Fremont Older.
[6], vii-xi, [1], 1-407 pp. Frontispiece portrait and seven unpaginated
plates with nine illustrations. 8-3/4x5-3/4, blue cloth with gilt
spine and cover titles, pictorial endpapers, pictorial dust jacket.
First edition. New York, London: D. Appleton-Century Company,
1936.
Together three volumes by or about Fremont Older: the second
one has a signed, presentation inscription "to my dearest
friend, Regina M. Barrett" by Fremont Older and the third
one has a lengthy signed, presentation inscription by the author
to one of Fremont Older's closest friends and journalist colleague
[Carl Hoffman]. Fremont Older was perhaps one of the most successful
and at the same time most honest and ethically motivated men in
journalism. He was honest enough to regret and brave enough to
publicly admit when he was wrong. Eventually it cost him his job
as editor of the paper whose origin went back to the San Francisco
of James King of William, Casey and the vigilantes. Older's story
was initially published in 1919 as a series in the Oakland Post-Enquirer.
The first item above is the first edition of that material in
book form and the second one is the second edition which was considerably
enlarged and revised. Spine of dust jacket of third item slightly
faded - otherwise all in fine condition. (50/80).
537. [NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS] Rice, William B.
The Los
Angeles Star, 1851-1864. The Beginnings of Journalism in Southern
California. Edited by John Walton Caughey. [6], vii-xvi, [2],
3-315 pp. 8-1/4x5-1/4, green linen with gilt spine title and rules,
printed dust jacket. First edition.
Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1947.
The development of Los Angeles and southern California was much
slower than the northern part where the mother lode was located.
Consistent with that is the inauguration of the first newspaper
in southern California five years after the first in northern
California. Even then it was subsidized by the state which needed
a means of publishing the new laws in that area in both Spanish
and English. The publication evolved with time into a colorful
and quixotic newspaper reflecting the community which it served.
Fine condition. (40/70).
538. [NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS]
The Sting of The Wasp. Political
and Satirical Cartoons from the Truculent Early San Francisco
Weekly. Introduction and Comments by Kenneth M. Johnson. [6],
1-15, [86] pp. Fifteen single-page and five double-page unpaginated
plates in color with one page of commentary on separate leaf for
each plate [versos blank]. 14-1/4x10-1/4, gray and white cloth
with gilt spine title and ornamental cover title in gold. Limited
edition of 450 copies printed at the Plantin Press by Saul and
Lillian Marks. San Francisco: The Book Club of California, 1967.
BCC Publication #127. "The Wasp was an illustrated
weekly magazine devoted to social and political satire which was
published in San Francisco from 1876 until well after the turn
of the century." [taken from the introduction because I couldn't
say it any better]. The reputation and popularity of this publication
was established when Ambrose Bierce was made editor from 1881
to 1886. During that time he was in complete charge of the publication
and did most of the writing. The cartoons were lithographed in
color and are said to be the first cartoons published in color
on a consistent basis in the United States. Fine condition. (60/90).
539. [NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS] Storke, Thomas M.
California
Editor. Written in collaboration with Walker A Tompkins. Foreword
by Earl Warren. [6], vii-xiv, [3], 2-489, [2] pp. Frontispiece
portrait and thirty-two paginated plates with fifty-nine illustrations
from various sources, 8-1/4x5-1/4, brown linen with gilt spine
title and ornament, pictorial endpapers, pictorial dust jacket.
First edition. Los Angeles: Westernlore Press, 1958.
Signed presentation inscription of the author to Hal Chase. The
author was born in Santa Barbara in 1876 with an ancestry boasting
descent from Francisco de Ortega, a member of the first party
to enter California in 1769 and the one to search for Monterey
Bay by land under Portola. In 1900 the author purchased a failing
Santa Barbara newspaper from the widow of the owner and launched
his lifelong career as a Santa Barbara newspaper publisher, interrrupted
only by two-months service as a U.S. Senator from California,
when he was appointed by the governor to fill out the term of
a senator who resigned. His book is not only informative with
regard to his own life and the history of Santa Barbara but it
provides an intelligent and ethical insight on the written and
unwritten history of his time. Fine condition. (50/80).
540. PAHER, STANLEY W.
Ponderosa Country, a Scenic and Historic
Guide to Reno and Vicinity. [10], 7-48 pp. Color frontispiece
and numerous monchrome illustrations from various sources. 12x9,
gray cloth with gilt spine and cover titles, pictorial endpapers,
slipcase. Limited edition of 100 copies specially bound in buckram
with color frontispiece and slipcase. Las Vegas: Nevada Publications,
1972. * Paher, Stanley W. A Preliminary Nevada Bibliography.
unpaginated [close to 300 pages] 10-3/4x8-1/2, blue buckram with
gilt spine title. Limited edition of 125 copies. Las Vegas: Nevada
Publications, [1974].
Together two items: first item signed by the author on the limitation
page. Pages of the second item are mimeographed - on rectos only.
Both in fine condition.
(100/150).
A Selection of California Pictorial Letter Sheets
541. [PICTORIAL LETTER SHEET WITH LETTER] Baker. G. H.
San
Francisco Past and Present. 4 pp. Two wood engravings:
San Francisco As It Was, 1849. [p.1] San Francisco As It
Is, 1854. [p.4] 11-1/4x9, single sheet of blue wove paper
folded to the given dimensions. First issue - printed at the Sun
Office. Sacramento: Barber & Baker, 1854.
Both views by G. H. Baker drawn from similar sites on Rincon
Point showing the remarkable growth of San Francisco in five years.
The 1849 view shows only a few scattered buildings near the the
harbor with heavy vegetation in the foreground. The 1854 view
shows the vegetation replaced with buildings from the foreground
to the hills in the background and already a displacement of the
harbor to the right from land-fill.
This letter sheet has a letter dated July 14, 1855. The earliest
date found by Baird on any of these letter-sheets was August 13,
1855 so this letter establishes a new latest-possible-date of
issue. Unfortunately the letter is written in a foreign language
[probably a scandinavian language] and in an elaborate script
which hinders reading and interpretation.
The entire letter sheet has been silked and small defects expertly
repaired - otherwise in very good condition. (300/500).
542. [PICTORIAL LETTER SHEET]
The Names of the President and
Senators of the First Senate of the State of California Convened
at the Capital at San Jose, December the 15th, One Thousand Eight
Hundred and Forty Nine. 1 page. No illustration. 8-1/4x10-1/2,
white wove unfolded sheet. No place: no publisher, no date.
Page one has a printed table of members of the first California
Senate with the following information about each: "District
Representing, Place of Nativity, State from whence Emigrated,
When Emigrated, Profession or Occupation, Age, and Marital Status"
with blank verso. A very useful table providing considerable information
not easily found elsewhere. There were 19 senators plus the Lt.
Governor who acted as president of the senate. Of the nineteen
senators, seven were merchants, five were attorneys, three were
farmers or rancheros, one was a physician, one a "wagoner"
and one a "mountaineer." All were presumably males [it
was not even deemed necessary to specify gender] and the ages
ranged from 26 to 44. The average age was 33 reflecting the fact
that the Gold Rush population was essentially one of young males.
Only two of the members were from the native Californio population
[Mariano Guadelupe Vallejo and Pablo de la Guerra] and although
this has been highly criticised, by this time the native Californios
were actually over-represented from the standpoint of population
percentage [11 % of the senate and less than 5 % of the population].
Two small splits at former fold neatly repaired with archival
tape - otherwise in fine condition. (250/400).
Pictorial letter sheet with two-page letter
543. [PICTORIAL LETTER SHEET WITH LETTER]
Miner's Life Illustrated.
4 pp. Thirteen wood-engraved illustrations as follows: Miner's
Home [across the top of the page], Miner Cooking [below, center]
[then clockwise] Letters from Home, Washing Day, Miner's Claim,
Miner's Cabin, Miner's Evening, [playing cards - and presumably
gambling]. Saturday Night [miners weighing gold], Friends in City,
Friends in Country [Indians and Chinese], Miner's Slumbers, Miner's
Dream [girl with nimbus], Miner Sick. 11x8-3/4, folded blue wove
sheet with illustrations on one page and holograph letter on two
other pages.
Sacramento: Barber & Baker, 1854.
Baird 165. The earliest date found by Baird on a letter of this
issue was December 23, 1854. The letter on this sheet, however,
is dated Nov. 23, 1854 which establishes a new latest-possible-date
of issue. The content of the letter is excellent. The miner's
account is classical for the time that he wrote. He starts by
apologizing for not responding to his correspondent's letters
sooner but decides philosophically to " brave all and pen
a few lines to you to let you know that I am in the land of the
living, digging away, trying to get some of the oro but it goes
slow and hard. I would sooner be on your farm holding plough but
it so happens that I can't have my choice, there is no use of
grumbling." Later he describes California as " a hard
place nowdays. The mines are pretty well worked, the rivers and
ravines do not pay anymore. The gold now lies in the hills where
it takes a fortune to get at it." But like most gold-seekers
and gamblers he hasn't given up. "A short time since two
men just acrossed the plaines went over to Spanish Dry Digging.
In less than one week took out $8,000, sold his claim for $3,000
more so the story goes. It is but eight or ten miles from
here but one cannot tell what to believe." In relation to
the illustrations on this pictorial letter sheet he comments,
"Some of these are very natural but the most are not rough
enough to be natural." Paper worn with several short tears
at the edges and a few small defects at the confluence of folds
but letter very legible and illustrations clean and intact. (500/800).
544. [PICTORIAL LETTER SHEET]
Miners at Work with Long Toms.
1 leaf. Three wood engraved illustrations on one page: scene of
several miners at work on a placer mine with gold pan, shovels,
and Long Toms across the top of the page, an Indian sitting on
the ground, in the lower left corner of the page, and a miner
standing with gold pan, shovel, and pick on the left margin between
the other two illustrations - all joined by a border of limbs
and leaves [and one lone spear]. 10-3/4x8-1/4, single sheet of
gray wove paper.
No place: no publisher, no date.
Baird 159. This is the third variant of this letter sheet described
by Baird who suggests Britton and Rey [San Francisco] as the publishers
and July 30, 1852 as the latest-possible-date of issue. Few small
tears and chips of edges - otherwise in fine condition. (400/700).
545. [PICTORIAL LETTER SHEET]
Sundry Amusements in the Mines.
1 leaf. Four illustrations on one page [clockwise from left upper]:
A Sunday's Amusement [two miners washing clothes in a river],
A Daily Pleasure [same two miners preparing a meal by a fireplace
in their tent-cabin], A Pleasant Surprise [a bear in their tent-cabin]
Occupation for Rainy Days [the two miners mending boots and clothes].
8-1/4x10-1/2, printed on gray wove paper with blank verso. San
Francisco: Britton & Rey, no date.
Baird 268; Peters p.78. This letter sheet is illustrated in plate
39 of Peters. Only three known copies of this letter sheet were
identified by Baird. These illustrations have been frequently
used to illustrate popular books on the Gold Rush. One small chip
from right blank margin and slight irregularity of upper edge
- otherwise in fine condition. (500/800).
546. [PICTORIAL LETTER SHEET]
Fire in San Francisco Jn [sic]
the Night from the 3rd - 4th May 1851. Loss $20,000,000. 4
pp. Illustration showing the fire in San Francisco on one page
plus three blank pages. 11-1/4x9 printed on gray wove paper and
folded.
San Francisco: Lith. Justh. & Co., no date.
Baird 77. This is the first variant described by Baird. He locates
5 copies of this variant on gray wove paper and gives no latest-possible-date
of issuance. Chip to left lower corner professionally repaired
- otherwise in very fine condition. (400/700).
547. [PICTORIAL LETTER SHEET]
Fire in San Francisco Jn [sic]
the Night from the 3rd - 4th May 1851. Loss $20,000,000. One
leaf. Illustration showing the fire in San Francisco on one page
and blank verso. 10 5/8x8 5/8, printed on gray wove paper.
San Francisco: Publ. & Lith. Justh. Quirot & Co., no
date.
Baird 77. This is the second variant described by Baird. He locates
3 copies of this variant on blue wove paper but none on gray wove
as this one. Worn with several small defects repaired by silking,
otherwise in very good condition. (200/300).
548. [PICTORIAL LETTER SHEET]
Great Fire in San Fransisco,
[sic]. May 4th, 1850. 400 Buildings Burned. Loss $5,000,000.
4 pp. Illustration of the May 4th 1850 San Francisco fire on one
page and three blank pp. 10-1/2x8-1/4, gray wove paper.
San Francisco: W. B. Cooke & Co., no date.
Baird 96a. Dramatic picture of San Francisco burning across from
Portsmouth Square with a small street plan below marking the area
that was destroyed. This is the second variant described by Baird.
He identified only three known copies and gave sometime before
May 26, 1850 as the date of issue.
Included with this pictorial letter sheet is a copy of May
15th Weekly Alta California which has a front page news
article about this fire including a street plan showing the area
that was destroyed. Both items in very good to near-fine condition.
(400/700).
549. [PICTORIAL LETTER SHEET]
The Miner's Ten Commandments.
One leaf, printed on one side only. Ten wood-engraved illustrations
- one for each commandment. 11x9-1/4, printed on blue wove paper.
Hanna & Co., Printers. Entered...in the year 1854, by James
M. Hutchings. Orders addressed, J. F. Larrabee, 120 Sansome St.,
San Francisco.
Baird 167b. Holograph notation in ink on the back as follows:
"You will find in this the way that we live in the mines."
Signed "Samuel Baxter" [? - last name somewhat illegible]
H. Eastman, Del. engraved on left upper illustration and Anthony
& Baker on upper center illustration. This is one of the very
popular letter sheets that helped establish Hutchings financially.
The first one published under this title was entered in 1853.
Few tiny defects at confluence of folds - otherwise in fine condition.
(500/800).
550. [PICTORIAL LETTER SHEET]
Commandments to California Wives.
One leaf, printed on one side only. Four illustrations surrounding
the printed text of the commandments: top left is entitled Commandments
Are Given; top right is labeled A Happy Home; left
lower vignette of a miner sitting outside his tent and the right
lower vignette of a woman with three children playing by and in
a tall tree are untitled. 11-1/4x9, printed on blue wove paper.
C. C. Kuchel, Del., engraved in left upper illustration, W. C.
Butler engraved in right upper and lower illustration, Mercantile
Job Print, 130 Sansome St., S. F. under right upper engraving.
Entered...1855 by James M. Hutchings. Address J. F. Larrabee,
San Francisco.
Baird 42. Another one of Hutching's popular letter sheets - issued
before July 6, 1855 according to Baird. Six copies located. One
1x-3/4 inch chip out of right upper corner affecting blank margin
only, one small chip from top edge, one long tear and several
short tears expertly repaired with archival tape as to be hardly
visible.
(500/800).
551. [PICTORIAL LETTER SHEET]
View of Agua Fria Town. 4
pp. printed on one page only. 8-1/2x10-1/2, printed on blue wove
paper. San Francisco: Quirot & Co., no date.
Baird 281; Peters p.138. Agua Fria was the first county seat
of Mariposa which was initially the largest county in California.
Nothing remains today of this Gold Rush town except historical
markers. This view shows a cluster of small buildings in front
of rolling hills with miners walking the streets and working in
the dry river bed in front of the town. Two tall flagpoles are
flying the U. S. flag. Fine condition.
(500/800).
Pictorial lettersheet with
1856 Vigilante scenes and letter by a member
552. [PICTORIAL LETTER SHEET WITH LETTER]
Assassination of
James King of Wm. by James P. Casey. 4 pp. Four wood-engraved
illustrations and one column of text on two pages: Assassination
[upper left]; Funeral of Js. King [lower left]; Surrender
of the Jail [upper right]; Execution [lower right].
10 7/8x8 3/8, printed on green wove paper.
San Francisco: Britton & Rey, no date.
Baird 5. One page holograph letter by a member of the vigilantes.
Very interesting content. [original spelling retained] "We
have wars and rumers of war in our city. There [are] too partes:
viglant commity and law and ordur. I am one of the Viglant Commity.
there is a[t] least 6,000 of us now with plenty of armes and amunition
and there is plenty to help us from other parts of the states
if we want. the govenner is trying to rais fours enugh to have
a fight but he can't do it. I don't believe that he has got onely
2500 men now...Times is as dull as it can be in this city. there
is no bisnes done in this city at all. I cood not get eny thing
to do with my Bark so I have been lade up a month now and have
sold hir to go a whailing and I am going to get a schooner this
fall again. I only made one voige in my Bark. I was gone near
too months...I expect to get married this fall if nothing happens."
Typed transcription of the letter provided. Quite worn with numerous
small defects at folds and blank margins. The letter, nevertheless,
is very readable and the column of text and illustrations are
quite intact except for the titles of the upper two. (800/1200).