David Spilman Fine Books

California and its Resources; A Work for the Merchant, the Capitalist, and the Emigrant. [early Yosemite illustrations from Thomas A Ayres]

Seyd, Ernest

London: Trubner and Co., 1858. Very Good. First Edition. Thomas A. Ayres, Edward Lewis and Bohm. 8vo [8.5x5.5in]; [4], 168 pp., [1] advertisement, 22 illustrations on 18 plates, including frontispiece tinted illustration of The Yo-Hamite Falls, fold out plate of panoramic view of San Francisco, eight tinted illustrations, two folding maps [14.625x12in and 12.25x18.25in]; Contemporary three-quarter dark brown leather on marbled board, rebacked with original spine laid down with new gilt lettered label, original gilt stamped Board of Trade at bottom of spine, light green end papers, all edges trimmed; Some shelf wear to edges and corners with minor rubbing to surfaces and spine, corners worn, slight fading to marbled boards, several scratches on spine, edges of text age darken, small bookseller ink stamp on lower front end paper, old ink stamp, partially erased, at top of title page, small stain on frontispiece margin and chip to tissue guard, small closed tears at hinges and folds to folding maps. [Currey & Kruska 296, , Wheat Gold Rush Books 181, Wheat Gold Rush Maps 312, Howell 50 832, Cowan 64 p. 577]. Item #13585

Ernest Seyd (1830-1881), a British author, banker and economist, that wrote on coinage and foreign exchange. This book was from his visit to California and is an early description of the State's economy after the 10 years since the discovery of gold. From Currey & Kruska, this book is "One of the best early surveys of the natural resources of California ...". Seyd describes the government and the history of the Vigilance Committees. This book has information and the earliest printed illustrations of the Yosemite Valley and big trees, he writes, "In Mariposa is situated the far-famed Yohamite Valley. This Valley is most fertile in its nature, is evergreen, ornamented with immense trees, and watered by a beautiful, clear stream. It is surrounded by rocks, some of which rise perpendicularly to a height of upwards of 3,000 feet ... Nature seems really to have reserved this tract of country for a display of her sublimest and most astounding works ...." From Wheat Gold Rush Books, "Reports on mining and kindred pursuits for prospective immigrants, with illustrations of much Gold Rush significance."

From Currey-Kruska, "Two hand-tinted lithograph plates are views of Yosemite Valley and two others depict scenes in the Calaveras Grove." These were "... from sketches made by Thomas A. Ayres in 1855 (published in Hutchings' California Magazine for July 1856). These illustrations appear to be the first views of Yosemite Valley to be published in a book."

Price: $1,550.00