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Author: Hutchings, James Mason
Title: In the Heart of the Sierras: The Yo Semite Valley, both Historical and Descriptive and Scenes by the Way. Big Tree Groves. The High Sierra with its Magnificent Scenery, Ancient and Modern Glaciers, and other Objects of Interest; with Tables of Distances and Altitudes, Maps, etc.
Place Published: Yo Semite Valley
Publisher:Published at the Old Cabin
Date Published: 1886
Description:

[4], xii, 13-496 pp. Illustrated with 28 inserted plates, including: frontispiece photo-type by Gutekunst, portrait of Hutchings from a photograph by Houseworth, 20 phototypos by Britton & Rey from photographs by Isaiah Taber, George Fiske and others, 1 artotype by E. Bierstadt, 1 heliotype by Heliotype Ptg. Co., 1 red plate of a snow plant; and 3 wood-engraved plates; 2 maps (1 folding lithograph and 1 full-page); plus numerous wood engravings and photos within the text. 21.5x14.5 cm (8½x6"), publisher's full brown morocco decorated in blind and gilt, lettered in gilt, stamped in blind on rear, gilt dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. First Edition, First Printing.

First printing in publisher's scarce deluxe full morocco binding, with the readings in the table of contents corresponding with those listed by Currey & Kruska. Accepted first issue, matching all the required points, including: frontispiece phototype by Gutekunst depicting no one seated behind the horse and a cabin without a lean-to; portrait of Hutchings is a "photo-typo" by Britton & Rey; the plate of Hutchings' Old Cabin is reproduced by the Heliotype Ptg. Co. of Boston. Some copies of the First Edition include a second plate by Bierstadt at p. [470], not present here, no priority established. The "5" signature mark at the base of Page 65 is present. The folding lithograph map is printed by Britton & Rey. Cowan (I), p. 117; (II), pp. 299-300; Currey & Kruska 175; Farquhar 18a; Rocq 5206.

The author, J.M. Hutchings (1820-1902), a pioneer of the tourist industry in Yosemite and one of the first to visit there in winter, was Guardian to the Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove between 1880 and 1884. According to Farquhar, In the Heart of the Sierras was Hutchings' crown publishing achievement and "...contains a great deal more...than an account of Hutchings' personal experiences; it covers more fully than any other work of its day every aspect of Yosemite Valley and the Big Trees that could by considered of general interest to visitors."

Some rubbing to extremities; folding map with a bit of toning at folds, small closed tear at stub, 3" closed tear along fold at bottom edge with no loss; interior with light toning and occasional bit of finger soiling, some scuffing to edge gilt; very good.