Beauties of California: Including Big Trees, Yosemite Valley, Geysers, Lake Tahoe, Donner Lake, S.F. '49 & '83., Etc. (California Merchant's Issue)
San Francisco: H.S. Crocker & Co., 1883. First Edition. Octavo; unpaginated. Descriptive text interleaved with images of California scenes and advertisements for California businesses. Includes views of San Francisco, Yosemite, the Big Trees, Lake Tahoe, Monterey and many advertisements for California businesses. The present copy has 24 full page color lithographs on 12 leaves. A very attractive promotional brochure in original color pictorial wrappers. A fragile survivor, the color front wrapper has some old tape marks on the inside; the front and rear hinges have been neatly repaired with tape; paper on spine mostly gone; still a presentable copy.
This California Merchant's Issue, as per Currey & Kruska does not have a cover title and and has "Compliments of..." imprinted on background of small gold nugget; this cover promotes A. F. Downing & Son Wholesale Dealers in Druggists' Sundries,14 Second St. San Francisco. Laid in is a 8 3/4" x 5 3/4" sample card (in fine condition) reproducing the front cover with an ad for Crocker on the verso; the company imprinted is C. J. Hawley & Co. Item #22239
The text is composed of advertisements for Californa businesses and descriptions of the stat'es scenic attractions; including Yosemite Valley and the big trees of the Mariposa and Calaveras groves. "The color lithograph views, twelve of which depict scenes in the big tree groves and Yosemite Valley, are of primary interest." (Currey & Kruska 133).
The 24 lithographs include: H.S. Crocker & Co. headquarters on Bush Street in San Francisco; Taber's Photographic Parlor S.F. Cal.; Hartford Insurance Company of Hartford Conn; Baldwin Hotel S.F. Cal.; Hotel Del Monte Monterey; Cottage Home & Oak Grove Alameda Cal.; San Francisco in 1849; San Francisco in 1883; Big Tree “Garfield”; Cliff House & Seal Rocks; Mammoth Hotel Calaveras Grove; Big Tree “Wawona”; Grizzly Giant; Yosemite Falls; Vernal Falls; General View of the Valley; Valley from Glacier Point;
Bridal Veil Falls; Yosemite Stage; Lake Tahoe; Donner Lake; Bridge at Big Tree Station; Geyser Springs; Profile of Vernal Falls.
Price: $850.00