Beauties of California copyright 1883, by N. W. Griswold. Views and descriptions of Yosemite Valley, big trees, geysers, Lake Tahoe, Donner Lake, San Francisco, '49 & '83, Los Angeles, and towns, orange groves and vineyards of Southern California. San Francisco: H. S. Crocker & Co., Printers, Lithographers and Publishers, 1884. 23x15 cm (octavo), pp. [1-58] (not paginated), flyleaves at front and rear, 38 colored plates on 19 leaves, color lithographed wrappers, covers one and four have big tree scenes, covers two and three are imprinted with advertisements for the Kalliodont Manufacturing Company, side stapled, all edges stained red. Second edition, enlarged. The cover title reads: "Beauties of California." Printed on the gold nugget in foreground of illustration: "Compliments of / Preuss & Pironi, / Leading Drug House, / Los Angeles, Cal." The text of the 1883 edition is composed of advertisements for California businesses and descriptions of the state's 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 the primary interest. The 1884 edition is expanded to include description and views of Fresno and Southern California. No advertisements appear in this edition, save those for Kalliodont on the inside front and rear covers (Griswold was the secretary of this toothpaste manufacturer). The description of the Mariposa Grove is not altered, but those of the Calaveras Grove and Yosemite are enlarged, the latter adding a long description of Hetch Hetchy Valley. The views of Yosemite Valley and the giant sequoia are changed slightly in the 1884 edition and the duplicate view of "Big Tree Wawona" has been replaced by "Bridge at Big Tree Station." Currey and Kruska 133. Mild rubbing to spine ends and corner tips, a nearly fine copy. A lovely copy. (#166008).
No statement of printing.