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Author: Ryan, William Redmond
Title: Personal Adventures in Upper and Lower California in 1848-9; with the Author's Experiences at the Mines
Place Published: London
Publisher:William Shoberl
Date Published: 1851
Description:

2 volumes in 1. vi, [2], 347, [1]; vi, 413, [1] pp. Illustrated with 23 plates, including 3 duotone lithographs, the rest being wood engravings. (8vo) original blindstamped brown cloth, spine lettered in gilt.

Uncommon one volume edition of the 1851 printing, not recorded by Kurutz. 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. First published the preceding year. Cowan p.547; Howes R558; Kurutz 548c; Sabin 74532; Wheat Gold Rush 173.

Spine faded, old paper spine label with stain around it, corners bumped a bit, hinges cracked; very good.