The Argonauts of California:; Being the Reminiscences of Scenes and Incidents that Occurred in California in Early Mining Days, by a Pioneer
New York: Fords, Howard, and Hulbert, 1890. Very Good Plus. First Edition, 1st Printing. [9.75x7.5in] 504 pp., frontispiece and 117 in text and full page illustrations, list of ships that sailed from the Atlantic to California in 1849, index and listing of 35,000 Forty-niner names; Ocher cloth covers with gilt lettering and illustrations on front and spine, black ink illustration on front, beveled edges, light green floral end papers, all edges trimmed; Minor shelf wear to covers edges and corners with light rubbing along top and bottom of spine, light rubbing and soiling of covers, tipped in and laid in letters, post card, and newspaper clippings at end papers, list of ships detached, marginalia notes by Parker, book label of J. F. Parker, Parkersburg, Inia [Indiana] on front paste down, a letter from Haskins to Parker is on the front free end paper. [Kurutz 319, Norris 1598, Cowan p.269; Graff 1812; Howes H-383; ; Rocq 16913; Wheat Books 93.]. Item #14284
Charles Warren Haskins (1852-1903) was an Accountant, educator and author. He is best known for this book which includes the well organized Pioneer Index of over 35,000 names of people to had arrived in California by December of 1849. He was also an accountant that created a major accounting firm that worked on the reorganization of the U.S. Federal Government accounting systems in 1895.
This book is Haskins detailed memory of his experiences as a '49er' He arrived on a clipper ship, America, from New Bedford to San Francisco in April, 1849. He took a steamer to Sacramento and then traveled to Placerville in El Dorado County to mine for gold. Haskins states in the preface that "these events are written entirely from memory" when writing the book in the winter of 1887-88 snowbound in Idaho. Clearly some of the dialogue may not be entirely accurate. He also was the author of many, but not all, the illustrations in the book.
This book was, apparently, first owned by John Frank Parker and Haskins sent the book directly to Parker with a letter, which is tipped into the book. It appears that the Parker family were well known to Haskin's from childhood. There is also an additional note, from Haskins, on several illustrations and commentary. The Parker family is apparently from Parkersburg, Indiana and further information has not been researched. The letter from Haskins to Parker is in response to Parker's request to purchase a copy of this book. The letter reads... "Oakland, Aug 31st, Mr. Parker, Sir, I have just rec’d yours the 11th inst making a request for my book the Argonauts of Cal & in reply would say that I will mail a copy for you immediately hoping that you will enjoy many happy hours in its perusal. Your Father and myself were old argonauts & although he was a few years older than myself we attended the same school & in fact were boys together. I was also well acquainted with your grandfather. It was in that historic spot upon O….?... where the young chaps who were ambitious to excel the hunters of old, brought our supplies of powder, caps & C, when one could raise the change for the purpose. Your Uncle Francis, I meet occasionally in S. F., he is in good health, but what he is doing I do not know. From the heading of your note, I should conclude that fortune had smiled upon you, for which I congratulate. The price of the book is $3.75 delivered for which you can send a money order & oblige. Yours truly, C. W. Haskins 545 24th St Oakland, Cal"
Price: $550.00