WHITNEY, JOSIAH D. | The Yosemite Book: A Description of the Yosemite Valley and the Adjacent Region of the Sierra Nevada, and of the Big Trees of California. New York: Published by Authority of the Legislature by Julius Bien, 1868

Property from the Library of Joseph Vales

WHITNEY, JOSIAH D.

The Yosemite Book: A Description of the Yosemite Valley and the Adjacent Region of the Sierra Nevada, and of the Big Trees of California. New York: Published by Authority of the Legislature by Julius Bien, 1868

4to (11¾ x 9¾ in.; 303 x 248 mm). Title-page printed in red and black, 28 albumen photographs by Carleton E. Watkins (24) and by William Harris (4) mounted on card with linen guards, 2 folding lithographed maps (" Map of the Yosemite from Surveys Made by Order of the Commissioners to Manage the Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Big Tree Grove"; "Map of a Portion of the Sierra Nevada Adjacent to the Yosemite Valley"); a few photos lightly faded, some foxing to text, maps with some creasing. Publisher's half maroon morocco gilt over purple cloth, marbled endpapers, gilt edges; extremities rubbed, some fading and staining to cloth, front free endpaper and flyleaf detached.

First edition, one of 250 copies issued with photographs. "One of the first American books devoted entirely to photographs of the landscape" (Truthful Lens). The Watkins views in the book were made during the photographer's 1866 trip to Yosemite with the Geological Survey of California; those by Harris, a Survey photographer, were made in 1867. Mount Whitney is named after the author.

REFERENCES:        

Cowan, California 699; Currey & Kruska 60; Farquhar 7a; Graff 4646; Howes W389; Kurutz ("A masterful combination of important scientific data and fine photography"); The Truthful Lens 185