The Gold Fields of the Klondike; Fortune Seeker's Guide to the Yukon Region of Alaska and British America The Story as told by Ladue, Berry, Phiscator and Other Gold Finders
London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1897. Very Good. First U.K. Edition, First Printing. [8x5.5in]; [1] map, [2] diagrams, [10], 13-216 pp., frontispiece illustration of bags of gold nuggets and dust, 47 illustrations, maps, diagrams in text and four plates of black and white images, color folding map at rear [ 13x17.5in neatline, 14x18in sheet, eight panel folds to 7x4.5in]; Yellow cloth covers with black ink stamped lettering on front and spine, gilt letter on spine, black ink design on front, all edges trimmed; Some shelf wear to covers with soiling, rubbing, few spots, and frayed edges and corners, text paper aged toned and brittle due to quality of paper used, darken spine and edges of text block, light age toning and a few small closed tears to map edges and in crease corners, prior owner purple ink stamped name on front and back end papers. [Kurutz Klondike 326b, Howes L262, Tourville 2679] CS. Item #14061
John W. Leonard (1849-1932) was a journalist that wrote about mining camps throughout the world. This was an early guide book to answer questions about "the latest El Dorado." From Kurutz, in addition to personal investigations, he picked up information from newspapers and interviews with "returned Klondikers." The book includes narratives from miners Clarence Berry, F. W. Cobb, Frank Phiscator and Joseph Ladue, with added reports from William Ogilvie. From Kurutz, "Leonard devoted a chapter to the riveting firsthand accounts of Mrs. Clarence J. (Ethel) Berry, the "Bride of the Klondike" and Mrs. Eli (Sophia) Gage.... This "fortune seekers' guide is liberally illustrated with photographs and line illustrations, including portraits of prominent Klondikers."
The color map is titled Map of Alaska, A. N. Marquis and Co., Chicago, 1897. The map shows all of Alaska and the western part of British Northwest Territory, with a general delineation of the "Klondike Goldfields. Includes steamer routes, major rivers, communities, mountains with elevation hachures and other topographical features. Includes an inset map of steamer inland passage route to Juneau, Chilcat and Dyea with land route to Dawson City.
This book was from the library of the late Dr. G. Warren Smith of Pennsylvania. He had a long career as university professor and administrator, and was a collector of over 6,000 books, maps, illustrations, and artifacts relating to the Arctic, Alaska and Pacific Northwest.
Price: $275.00