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Author: Ryan, William Redmond
Title: Personal Adventures in Upper and Lower California in 1848-9; with the Author's Experiences at the Mines
Place Published: London
Publisher:William Shoberl
Date Published: 1850
Description: 2 volumes. 4 ad, x, [2], 347, [1]; [2], 413, [1] pp. Illustrated with 23 plates, including 3 duotone lithographs, the rest being engravings. 19.5x12 cm (7¾x4¾"), original blindstamped red cloth, with gilt decoration and title. First Edition.Ryan, an Englishman, enlisted in 1847 in Stevenson's First Regiment of California Volunteers and reached Monterey on the Isabella in 1848. When the regiment was disbanded in August, 1848, he went to the Stanislaus River for an unsuccessful try at mining, returning to Monterey in the winter of 1849. Cowan calls the book "The charming narrative of an artist and bohemian who left unrecorded but little that he saw. His descriptions are among best of his time." Howes lauds the pictures as well as the text. Cowan p.547; Graff 3626; Howes R558; Kurutz 548a; Sabin 74532; Streeter 2646; Wheat Gold Rush 173. Bookplate present.

Slight wear to cloth, splitting at edges; hinges tender or cracking, some damage to endpapers, foxing to frontispieces and occasionally throughout; very good.