Personal Adventures in Upper and Lower California in 1848-9; with the Author's Experiences at the Mines. Two Volumes
William Shoberl, Publisher, 1851. Leather Binding. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" Very Good / No Jacket. Item #005515703
Two volumes bound in three quarter calf over green cloth boards, with gilt raised bands, decorated compartments, and brown leather title label. Top edges gilt. x, 347, [1] pp.; vi, 413, [1] pp. Illustrated with 23 plates (all accounted for). (8vo) 18.2x12 cm (7¼x4¾') Light wear to the leather; internally clean, with the bookplate of Alfred I Esberg to front pastedowns (former Chairman and Vice-President of the California Historical Society, 1922-55) Ryan, an Englishman, enlisted in 1847 in Stevenson's First Regiment of California Volunteers and reached Monterey on the Isabella in 1848. When the regiment was disbanded in August, 1848, he went to the Stanislaus River for an unsuccessful try at mining, returning to Monterey in the winter of 1849. Cowan calls the book 'The charming narrative of an artist and bohemian who left unrecorded but little that he saw. His descriptions are among best of his time.' Howes lauds the pictures as well as the text. First published in 1850. Cowan p.547; Howes R558; Kurutz 548d; Sabin 74532; Wheat Gold Rush 173. (this is the 1851 edition, which usually is found together in one volume).
Price: $750.00