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[4], xii, 13-496 pp. Illustrated with 29 inserted plates including frontispiece phototype by Gutekunst of C.D. Robinson's painting "In The Heart of the Sierras"; wood-engraved portrait of Hutchings from a photograph by Houseworth; phototype by Gutekunts of Yo-Semite Valley with no one seated behind the horse; 26 phototypes by Britton & Rey from photographs by George Fiske & others; also, 1 red plate of a snow plant, & 3 wood-engraved plates; 2 maps (1 folding, lithographed by Britton & Rey). (8vo), 21.5x15 cm (8½x5¾"),  presentation binding of black morocco tooled and titled in gilt, all edges gilt, gilt inner dentelles, marbled endpapers. Front cover reads: "The Board of Commissioners To Manage The Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove / In the Heart of the Sierras / With Kind Compliments of J.M. Hutchings." Back cover features title stamped in blind. First Edition. first issue.

In rare, possibly unique, presentation binding from the author to the board of commissioners of Yosemite. J.M. Hutchings (1820-1902), was a pioneer of the tourist industry in Yosemite. He was one of the first to visit there in winter and 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. With bookplate of Roland P, Seitz, M.D. on front fixed endpaper.