ELDORADO, OR, ADVENTURES IN THE PATH OF EMPIRE: COMPRISING A VOYAGE TO CALIFORNIA, VIA PANAMA; LIFE IN SAN FRANCISCO AND MONTEREY; PICTURES OF THE GOLD REGION, AND EXPERIENCES OF MEXICAN TRAVEL ... With Illustrations by the Author. New York: George P. Putnam, 155 Broadway. London: Richard Bentley, 1850. 19.5x12.5 cm (12mo), two volumes: pp. [i-vii] viii [ix] x-xii [1] 2-251 [252: blank]; [i-ii] [1] 2-3 [4-6] [5] 6-247 [248: blank] [1-35]: ads, [36]: blank, [preliminary leaves in volume II erratically paged], flyleaves at front and rear, 8 tinted lithographic plates by Sarony and Major, all but one after Taylor's drawings, each with tissue guard, publisher's decorated black cloth stamped in gold and blind, top edge untrimmed, other edges rough trimmed, cream endpapers. First edition, first printing. "... one of the best descriptions of California life in 1849" (Cowan). "Taylor came to California as a newspaper correspondent whose prime and avowed purpose was to 'write a book' about the Gold Rush. He succeeded in producing one of the really significant books of the period. It went through numerous editions, and though its author may not have so considered it during his lifetime, ELDORADO, is without doubt the most memorable and best remembered product of his distinguished and prolific pen" (Wheat). "This work by an eminent writer and artist is probably the outstanding book on the early gold rush in California. The author's description of the Constitutional Convention at Monterey is the best we have, as are also the views he gives us of the earliest mining camps ... Bayard Taylor saw everything and recorded all he saw" (Zamorano Eighty). Cowan (1933), p. 630. Howes T43. Kurutz, The California Gold Rush 618a. Wheat, Gold Rush 204. Zamorano Eighty 73. BAL 19638. Early owner's name on the front paste-down of both volumes. A few spots to cloth, spines tanned, scattered foxing throughout both volumes (as is usually the case), some foxing to plates, but largely margins, the illustrations are bright and fairly clean, a very good copy. Accompanied by an autograph letter from Taylor to a "Dear Sir" dated 11 October 1855 regarding available lecture dates and topics. (#179138).
Price: $1,850.00
No statement of printing.