Joseph Warren Revere. A Tour of Duty in California; Including a Description of the Gold Region: and an Account of the Voyage Around Cape Horn; with Notices of Lower California, the Gulf and Pacific Coasts, and the Principal Events Attending the Conquest of the Californias. Edited by Joseph E. Balestier.  New York: C. S. Francis & Co, 1849. First edition of "one of the most important books on the Gold Rush [which] figures on most selected lists" (Streeter 2492). Signed by Revere on the front free endpaper. Octavo. [2, blank], [xii], 305, [1, blank], [6, publisher's ads], [1, blank] pages. With folding map ("The Harbor of San Francisco") inserted at front, and five full-page plates based on Revere's designs inserted throughout. On page [xi], there is an engraving entitled "Design for the Arms of California" also based on Revere's design. Publisher's full brown cloth, ruled and stamped in blind on covers, ruled and lettered in gilt on spine. Yellow-coated endpapers. Spine and board edges sunned and rubbed, a few leaves somewhat roughly opened (not affecting text), some minor wear to map at right edge just below the point where it is affixed to the text, pages 134-135 are browned, possibly due to offset from a newspaper article that may have been put there. Still, a near fine copy of this important book, with a rare signature.

"Revere was the grandson of American revolutionary Paul Revere. His book is one of the outstanding authorities on the period of the conquest, and his descriptions of California and the gold regions are among the best. The book contains valuable chapters on land law and land titles, as well as the complete report of Colonel Mason on the gold fields" (Hill 1439). "One of the most valuable works of the period" (Cowan I, pp. 189-90).

Cowan II, p. 530. Graff 3474 & 3475. Hill 1439. Howes R222. Kurutz, The California Gold Rush 529a.