Beschreibung:

Title: Typed transcript of letters and journals written from 1847 to 1865 by Franklin Errington, Harriett Errington, and several others Author: Errington, Harriet & Franklin, et al. Place: No place Publisher: Date: c.1900 Description: 2 parts in 1. [1], 51, [1], 61 leaves, typed on rectos only. 9¾x7¼, half calf & cloth. Important and quite rare collection of letters and other primary source materials, presented to Marion Olmsted, daughter of Frederic Law Olmstead, shortly after her father's death in 1903, containing much information on the Yosemite, among other features. There were apparenty only two copies of the book created, the other having been presented to Marion's half-brother, John Olmsted, which is housed in Harvard's Houghton Library along with the rest of his papers. The present copy is inscribed on the front flyleaf in ink, "Marion Olmsted, from Rosa Rayner, Oct., 1903," with pencil address below "Upper Terrace House, Hampstead, London N.W." The John Olmsted copy was also inscribed by Rayner. The first part bears the title "American War, Various Letters, 1847-1861" [should read 1862], and includes letters from Franklin Errington, Harriet Errington, Charlotte [Lottie] Errington Field, Alfred Field, etc., the most substantial portion is a diary by the latter, giving much detail on the country's moods and practices in the years and months leading up to the Civil War, and its early portion. The second part is titled "Harriet Errington's Letters and Journal from California, 1864-65," and covers much of the time she spent with the family of Frederick Law Olmsted, author and landscape architect. Most of the letters were written to Lottie [apparently in England], some by Georgiana Errington transmitting news sent by Harriet. Harriet Errington, in the spring of 1864, traveled to California and stayed with the Olmsteds, old family friends, at their mining estate in Mariposa. The letters include much on early Yosemite and the hardy few who populated the wondrous valley. Descriptions abound of the waterfalls, precipitous cliffs, giant sequoias, and other natural features, and of encounters with such denizens as Galen Clark, Clarence King, and others, including the photographer Carleton Watkins, with a view toward marketing his photographs. "...One of my great objects in writing to you again so soon is to ask you if any plan occurs to you of facilitating the introduction and sale of Watkins’s photographs of this valley in England. He is here now taking new and beautiful views and seems so lukewarm about pushing their sale that I am afraid it will be long before they become known where it seems to me they would be so thoroughly appreciated both for intrinsic excellence and interest of the subject... Mr. Watkins has hitherto sold his Yo Semite views which are quite large in a set of thirty, I think his price is $150 for the set and well are they worth it…” Harriet was also a botany enthusiast, with much on the flora of the regain, and an amateur paleontologist, “My collection of specimens, all I believe new species, are in the care of the paleontologist of the Geo. Survey to be named and examined and then returned. One is named Lima Erringtoni in honor of my discovery…” Much information is also given on Frederick Law Olmsted, one of the commissioners of the newly formed Yosemite National Park, and the early development of the park. The first part of the volume seems to be carbons, the second part ribbon; there are a few portions clipped out of the second part. Lot Amendments Condition: Very good condition. Item number: 167985