(Britton and Rey, lithographers)

Oblong lithographed view of San Francisco in 1854 (5 x 16  3/8; 128 x 416 mm) on a letter sheet (10  5/8  x 16  1/2  in.; 270 x 419 mm), the remainder of the letter sheet is an autograph letter signed by Louis Rauschenbach to his fiancée Anna, in German, San Francisco, 1 May 1854; vertical and horizontal folds, small paper loss at some folds and margins, skillfully repaired.  Buckram folding case, morocco gilt spine label.

Baird 239; Peters, California on Stone, plate 37

A lithographed view of mid-nineteenth century San Francisco with a fine letter from a Swiss businessman discussing John Sutter and San Francisco.  In this interesting letter, Louis Rauschenbach writes to his fiancée Anna.   Of Sutter, he writes, "I gave Mr. Sutter all the messages including the little picture and he is very happy.  Mr. Sutter was very sorry that I only met him the day after his agent left for New York.  He could have given him all the details & you could have travelled with company .... Mr. Sutter is really a very nice man, he showed me his land, introduced me to many Swiss people in a Swiss Bier-keller in one of the most beautiful streets of San Francisco."  Rauschenbach has nothing but favorable things to say about San Francisco and Sutter in this letter.  The two men seemed to have bonded over the fact that both have fiancées planning to come to San Francisco: "My only wish is that you could have been here because we then would have had 3 marriages—Mr. Owenauer, Mr. Sutter, and the 3rd one I let you guess."  The writer call San Francisco "a very beautiful & romantic setting."  He prefers the climate to New York's and writes, "I like San Francisco very much, one can have as much fun here as in New York.  There are many German Bier-keller, concerts and many other recreations.  On Sunday Mr. Sutter and I go generally to a beer garden and dance hall outside the city.  The dance hall is bigger and more beautiful than anything in New York.  the ladies are very elegant in the most beautiful silk dresses and shawls.  It is a pleasure just to watch.  Mr. Sutter told me the only thing we are missing is your Anna and my Mary, because then we would really be happy."