"A necessary reference book of San Francisco to the middle fifties"
Soulé, Frank; John Gihon, and John Nisbet. The Annals of San Francisco; Containing a Summary of the History of the First Discovery, Settlement, Progress, and Present Condition of California, and a Complete History of All the Important Events Connected with Its Great City: To Which Are Added, Bibliographical Memoirs of Some Prominent Citizens
New York: D. Appleton & Company, 1855. First edition. 8vo. 824 pages.
A classic early history of California. Illustrated with 150 engravings, including two town views, a street plan of San Francisco, a folding map, and four portraits (this conforms to another copy we examined and to the standard bibliographies, none of which note that the portrait of Thomas Larkin, shown on the list of illustrations as facing page 758, was apparently left out of the edition).
The folding map, "General Map Showing the Countries Explored & Surveyed by the United States & Mexican Boundary Commission in the Years 1850, 51, 52 & 53, Under the Direction of John R. Bartlett", is a fine engraved map of the Western United States.
Zamorano 80 #70: "A necessary reference book of San Francisco to the middle fifties, compiled mainly from newspapers and information received from pioneer citizens."
The book has been rebound in a sturdy green buckram binding with new endpapers; the folding map has been professionally laid down on canvas and reinserted into the book. The preliminary pages are soiled from use and worn away at the corners, and many of the plates are foxed. There are two 19th century ownership inscriptions on a front blank, one dated in 1857 in San Francisco. (#E0000102)
$175
[Click image for larger view]
