Beschreibung:

Title: Personal Adventures in Upper and Lower California in 1848-9; with the Author's Experiences at the Mines Author: Ryan, William Redmond Place: London Publisher: William Shoberl Date: 1850 Description: 2 volumes. x, [2], 347, [1]; [ii], 413, [1] pp. Illustrated with 23 plates, including 3 tinted lithographs, the rest being wood engravings. (12mo), later half calf and marbled boards, spines gilt. First Edition. Ryan, an Englishman, enlisted in 1847 in Stevenson's First Regiment of California Volunteers and reached Monterey on the Isabella in 1848. When the regiment was disbanded in August, 1848, he went to the Stanislaus River for an unsuccessful try at mining, returning to Monterey in the winter of 1849. Cowan calls the book "The charming narrative of an artist and bohemian who left unrecorded but little that he saw. His descriptions are among best of his time." Howes lauds the pictures as well as the text. Cowan p.547; Graff 3626; Howes R558; Kurutz 548a; Sabin 74532; Streeter 2646; Wheat Gold Rush 173. Lot Amendments Condition: Bindings rubbed; light foxing; very good. Item number: 234516