[4], xii, 13-496 pp. Illustrated with 29 inserted plates, including: frontispiece photo-type by Gutekunst, portrait of Hutchings from a photograph by Houseworth, 20 phototypos by Britton & Rey from photographs by Isaiah Taber, George Fiske and others, 2 artotypes by E. Bierstadt, 1 heliotype by Heliotype Ptg. Co., 1 red plate of a snow plant; and 3 wood-engraved plates; 2 maps (1 folding lithograph and 1 full-page); plus numerous wood engravings and photos within the text. 8½x5¾, original decorative olive green cloth, stamped and lettered in gilt, floral-patterned endpapers. First Edition, First Printing.
First printing, with the readings in the table of contents corresponding with those listed by Currey & Kruska. Accepted first issue, matching all the required points, including: frontispiece phototype by Gutekunst depicting no one seated behind the horse and a cabin without a lean-to; portrait of Hutchings is a "photo-typo" by Britton & Rey; the plate of Hutchings' Old Cabin is reproduced by the Heliotype Ptg. Co. of Boston; this copy contains two artotypes printed by E. Bierstadt (most copies of the first edition included only one plate by Bierstadt, not having the one at p. [470], no priority established). The folding lithograph map is printed by the Heliotype Printing Co. Boston ("Apparently few printed..." Currey & Kruska). The author, J.M. Hutchings (1820-1902), a pioneer of the tourist industry in Yosemite and one of the first to visit there in winter, was Guardian to the Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove between 1880 and 1884. According to Farquhar, In the Heart of the Sierras was Hutchings' crown publishing achievement and "...contains a great deal more...than an account of Hutchings' personal experiences; it covers more fully than any other work of its day every aspect of Yosemite Valley and the Big Trees that could by considered of general interest to visitors." Cowan (I), p. 117; (II), pp. 299-300; Currey & Kruska 175; Farquhar 18a; Rocq 5206.