Polly's lion: A California story for children. By Louise Carnahan. San Francisco, Cal. Published by the Author, 1401 Van Ness Avenue, 1894. 20.6 x 16.1 cm (octavo), pp. [1-4] 5-6 vii-ix [x] xi [xii] [13-14] 15-174 [175-176: blank], flyleaves at front and rear, nine full-page illustrations, six of which are on inserted plates, including one in color (California poppies), others in the text, vignette chapter tailpieces throughout, publisher's pictorial white cloth, front and spine panels stamped in green, yellow, orange and gold, plain endpapers, corners rounded. First edition. Part of this overly sentimental story (pages 90-139) is set in Yosemite. There is no description of the region's scenery or its facilities and human inhabitants. It is simply the physical setting where Polly loses her way in the woods, takes refuge in an abandoned cabin, and is menaced by a mountain lion. A general view of the Wawona Hotel (captioned "Sylvan Hall") appears on page [98]. Considered to be the first novel set in Fresno and to be uncommon. Remarkably, a second printing was published in 1902. Gift inscription dated "Christmas, 1894" on the front free endpaper. Cloth soiled and stained, especially rear cover, spine panel dusty, corners turned, inner hinges cracked, tear in frontispiece at gutter margin, internally clean and sound, a good copy. (#157248).
No statement of printing.