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1275 pp. Illustrated with 8 folding lithographed maps, including a large hand-colored one; 7 folding tables; 15 folding illustrations. (8vo) period half calf over marbled boards, red leather spine label. First Edition.

Important message from the president, being the first official publication of the news of the California gold discovery (pp.47-73) and containing four maps of the gold region (on three sheets). The large hand-colored map is of the U.S., reflecting the various portions added following the Mexican War; in addition there are battle maps from the Mexican War. Wheat notes it "Contains Colonel R.B. Mason's celebrated report of his visit to `the newly discovered gold placer in the valley of the Sacramento,' as well as Lieutenant E.O.C. Ord's `Map of the Gold and Quicksilver District of California,' and other maps of Gold Rush interest." These are maps of the Upper Mines and of the Lower Mines or Mormon Diggings (on one sheet), and the Upper and Lower Gold Mines on the South Fork of the American River. Warren Heckrotte points out that "The three smaller maps were done by William Sherman. This is surprisingly not noted in the standard bibliographies. Although the title page states that 15,000 copies were printed this is now a scarce book...  pp 228 -236  relate in brief the travel from Fort Leavenworth to California and back by a military detachment. This tells of finding the remains of the Donner Party and burying them."

Provenance: Schoyer, 9/91

References: Cowan p.426; Howes P446; Kurutz 105; Wheat Books 30; Wheat Maps of Gold Region 51, 52, 54;  Recollection of California  by William T. Sherman, Biobooks, 1945 reproduces Sherman's original manuscript map of the Upper and Lower Mines on the South Fork of the American River.