Contemporary Biography of California's Representative Men. With Contributions from Distinguished Scholars and Scientists. Vol. II
San Francisco: A. L. Bancroft and Company, 1882. First edition. Hardcover. Folio. 5 leaves, [5]-417pp., plates with tissue guards. Original brown morocco leather with gilt vignette and decor on cover, gilt ruling on cover and spine, elaborate blind-stamped decorative ruling on covers; raised bands and dentelles. Gilt edges. Decorative endpapers. The entirely separate volume on was published in 1881. "To gather into a compendium for preservation and reference the lives and portraits of those who have labored side by side in laying the foundations of human greatness upon the shores of the Pacific, is the object of this work." (Preface). This biographical directory or "mugbook" is illustrated with more than eighty full page steel-engraved portraits, with a total of one hundred and seven biographies of distinguished Californians. The editor especially commissioned for this work three essays: "The Glaciers and Snow-banners of California" by John Muir, "The Lakes of the Pacific Coast" by John Le Conte, and "Alaska" by Caleb T. Fay. Binding with some wear, scuffing along edges and joints of spine, some foxing. some tissue guards with creasing. Binding in overall very good-, interior in very good condition. vg- to vg. Item #47510
Price: $350.00