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Author: Ferry, Hypolite
Title: Description de la Nouvelle Californie: Geographique, Politique et Morale... Avec une grande carte de la Nouvelle Californie, des cartes particulières des Baies de Monterey et de San-Francisco, de L'Isthme de Panama, de Cap Horn et du Détroit de Magellan, et plusieurs vues intéressant de la Californie
Place Published: Paris
Publisher:L. Maison
Date Published: 1850
Description:

[4], 386 pp. With 4 steel-engraved plates; 4 engraved maps, one of them quite large and folding. (8vo) 17x11 cm (6¾x4¼"), period quarter leather & boards with a "tree calf" design, spine lettered, ruled, and ornamented in gilt. Second Edition.

One of two nearly identical editions published in 1850. The only distinction between the two issues are the words "Deuxieme Edition" printed at the head of the folding map in the later issue. Important and quite scarce account of Gold Rush California, called by Cowan "the most complete and extensive work descriptive of California published in France at this time"; included are chapters on New Helvetia, the gold region, and methods of mining. The plates include views of Pyramid Lake, Sutter's Fort, giant sequoias, and San Francisco. Two of the four maps are in Wheat, the larger of them being "Carte de la Nouvle. Californe dressée d'apres les travaux géeographiques de Mr Duflot de Mofras et du Colonel Fremont" (39x50 cm) (W-GR 155), the smaller is "Carte Particulière de baies de Monterey et de San Francisco..." (14x8.3 cm) (W-GR 156).

Light wear to corners, mild rubbing to boards; cracks starting on front hinge, light dampstaining to pages and fold-out map, tear to map repaired; overall very good.