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Author: [Vizetelley, Henry] Brooks, J. Tyrwhitt, pseu
Title: Four Months Among the Gold Finders in Alta California: Being the Diary of an Expedition from San Francisco to the Gold Districts
Place Published: London
Publisher:David Bogue
Date Published: 1849
Description:
xviii, 207 pp. Map as frontispiece with slight hand-coloring in outline. 20x12 cm (7¾x5"), red embossed cloth, gilt lettered spine. First Edition.

A spurious account of mining for gold in California (Howes calls it "one of the most remarkable `imaginary voyages' since Defoe"), apparently written in just ten days by Vizetelly with the assistance of David Bogue. Based upon various publications and reports, the book was so convincing that it was accepted as fact well into the twentieth century. The map, The Gold Districts of Alta California, shows most of California and parts of Nevada, and has the northern mining districts outlined in gold. Cowan p.75; Graff 4494; Howes V134; Kurutz 653a; Rocq 16125; Wheat Books 217; Wheat Maps 60.

Light soiling and rubbing of volume, spine sunned; scattered foxing and spotting, a few joints starting, 'Graff' sticker on front paste-down; very good.