David Spilman Fine Books

Geology of the Yukon Gold District, Alaska; with An Introductory Chapter on the History and Condition of the District to 1897 [Eighteenth Annual Report of the U. S. Geological Survey, 1896-97, Part 3, pp. 87 to 392] [55th Congress, 2nd Session, House Doc No.5, Part 3]

Spurr, Josiah Edward and Harold Beach Goodrich

Washington: United States Geological Survey, 1898. Very Good. First Edition. [11.5x8in] 87-392 pp, 18 of 20 plates with 8 illustrations, 10 maps (nine in color and five double page), 19 illustrations, images and diagrams in text; Bond in Light brown paper covers with dark brown cloth backstrip with gilt lettering on spine, all edges trimmed; Some shelf wear to edges and corners with rubbing and fraying of corners, minor rubbing to joints, covers age toned with some light scratches,small splits to bottom of spine, map plates 45 and 50 (not present, no pocket in binding), minor age toning to text edges, prior owner ink name written and stamped on front end paper.[Kurutz Klondike 541, Ricks p. 208, Arctic Biblio 16654, Wickersham 8221] CS. Item #14185

Josiah Edward Spurr (1870-1950) was a field geologist, author and private geological consultant. Spurr was appointed to the U.S. Geological Survey as part of the investigation of mineral deposits in Alaska. In 1896, Spurr, with Frank Schrader and Harold Goodrich left for a two year field trip to the Klondike District in Alaska and the Yukon. The District was know to have gold deposits from prospector reports from the 1870's, but had not been adequately surveyed. These field trips predated the Klondike gold rush in 1898 and followed the route over the Chilkoot Pass that became a major route of thousands. Spurr traveled again to Alaska to explore the Cook Inlet and reported out in the Kuskokwim USGS report in 1900. Spurr later left the USGS for private geological work and promotion of the mining and Society of Economic Geologists.

This book was from the library of the late Dr. G. Warren Smith (1941-2021) 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: $125.00