Scenes of Wonder and Curiosity in California. ... A Tourist's Guide to the Yo-Semite Valley,; The Big Tree Groves - The Natural Caves and Bridges - The Quicksilver Mines of New Almaden and Henriquita - Mount Shasta - The Farallone Islands, with their Sea Lions and Birds - The Geyser Springs - Lake Tahoe, and other places of interest. Also Giving Outline Map of Routes to Yo-Semite and the Big Tree Groves - Tables of Distances - Rates of Fair- Hotel Charges, and other desirable information for the Traveller.
New York: A. Roman and Company, 1872. Very Good. Third Edition, Later Printing. [7.5x5.5in]; [4]. 5-292 pp., [4] advertisements, frontispiece of Yo-Semite Valley with tissue guard, 104 illustrations, two maps of routes to and of the Yosemite Valley included in text; Original variant binding of dark green pebbled cloth on stiff paper wraper, glued binding, gilt lettering on front, all edges trimmed; Shelf wear to covers, edges and corners, minor soiling, rubbing, and marks on covers, cloth wrinkled in spots, a few small creases to top fore edge corners, text block age-toned with several light stain spots from leafs, prior owner signature on front free end paper with 1874 date. A very nice copy for a field guide book. [Currey & Kruska 164, Farquhar 4g, Kruska 76j]. Item #14360
James Mason Hutchings (1820-1902) was one of the many Englishmen that came to California in 1849 for the Gold Rush. He made his fortune in mining, published the "Hutchings' California Magazine" (1856-1861) and was one of the early tourist promoters of the wonders of Yosemite Valley, the Big Trees and California. As a businessman, he established a hotel in the valley floor and, after named as a State Park in 1864, he claimed land under preemption laws. He lost his claim and was banished from the Valley in 1875. He settled in San Francisco promoting and operating a tourist agency, printing guidebooks, and leading trips as a Yosemite guide.
The "Scenes of Wonder and Curiosity in California" was first published in 1860 as the "... first book ... on the state's natural attractions and was the first works to describe the big trees and the Yosemite region in detail." (from Currey & Kruska). The text and illustrations were from the articles in the "Hutching's California Magazine". This Third edition expanded the text and illustrations with revised and updated travel information from the previous editions. This variant soft binding was much better to carry on the trips and hikes through the wonders of California.
Price: $150.00