UDELL, John (1795-1874).  Incidents of Travel to California, across the Great Plains; together with the return trips through Central America and Jamaica. Jefferson OH: Printed for the author at the Sentinel Office, 1856.

8vo (176 x 115 mm). Woodcut portrait frontispiece; 1p. errata at end. (Some spotting and staining.) 20th-century half calf gilt by Zaehnsdorf.

FIRST EDITION, containing Udell's diary from 1 January 1850 through 5 July 1855.   Udell made four overland journeys to California before settling there permanently; he was 55 when he began his first journey in May 1850. It was his practice to stay in California, working in the mines and doing odd jobs, and then return home by Nicaragua or Panama for a short stay, and then set forth again" (Kurutz Gold Rush 644). According to Howes, the portrait (present in this copy) was not issued with all copies. Graff 4230; Howes U-3; Sabin 97663; Wagner-Camp 281.  


Property From the Westland Library of the Frontier