L. W. Currey, Inc.

CLARK, GALEN. The Big Trees of California: their history and characteristics by Galen Clark. Yosemite Valley, California: Galen Clark, 1907. 17.5x12 cm (octavo), pp. [1-2] [1-16] 17-104 (illustrations and first blank included in publisher's pagination), 20 illustrations on inserted plates, printed throughout in green and black, original green cloth, front panel stamped in black, white endpapers with floral pattern printed in green. First edition. A presentation copy with signed inscription by Clark to his sister on the recto of the first blank: "Miss C. Caroline Clark / with compliments of the author / her brother Galen Clark / Yosemite / Calif." A brief account of the natural history and distribution of the giant sequoia. In June of 1857 Clark, accompanied by Milton Mann, rediscovered a group of big trees which formed the upper of the two groves which Clark later collectively named the Mariposa Grove. Later that summer Clark discovered the lower grove of big trees nearby. While not the first European man to see these sequoia groves, Clark was the first to thoroughly explore and promote the Mariposa Grove. In the fall of 1857 an Indian guided Clark to yet another grove of the trees located a few miles southwest which he explored and publicized as the Fresno Grove. For an account of these explorations see Shirley Sargent, Galen Clark: Yosemite Guardian, pages 59-61. Cloth lightly rubbed and faded at edges, two small ink stains to rear cover, a good copy. Some associational material is laid in: a newspaper article, "Finder of the Giant Trees / the Career of Galen Clark, / Who First Saw Mariposa Grove," Springfield Republican, 31 March 1910, RPPC captioned "Log Cabin Mariposa Grove of Big Trees" postmarked 23 July 1930, and two gelatin silver prints, Clark's monument in Yosemite National Park and the Sequoia gigantea in the Mariposa Grove named for him, both with captions handwritten on the versos dated 1917. (#166024).