Western America
1850 “California: The Wonder of the Age...” Guide To The California Gold Fields
1850-Dated California Gold Rush Period, First Edition Booklet titled, “California: The Wonder of the Age,” By William Gowands, New York, Choice Very Fine.
This very rare historic Booklet measures 9” x 5.75” and features a 34 Page Guide for the California Gold Fields. The full title is: “California: The Wonder of the Age. A Book for Every One Going to or Having An Interest In That Golden Region; Being the Report of Thomas Butler King, United States Government Agent in and for California."

Issued just two years after the first discovery of gold in California and printed in the wake of the "49’ers" travel guides for gold prospectors headed West. The information contained in such guides was not always reliable, but this one allowed a traveler to know about “[California’s] population, climate, soil, products, public domain, and metallic and mineral wealth.” Bound in buff wraps, there is some minor chipping to the back cover. Interesting that William Gowen used the backwards “GW” script design for George Washington now redone “WG” upon the cover! Great addition to a collector of California or Gold Rush items.