In the Heart of the Sierras: The Yo Semite Valley, both Historical and Descriptive by James Mason Hutchings - 1886

Yo Semite Valley & Oakland, CA: The Old Cabin & Pacific Press Publishing House, 1886. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7� - 9�" tall. George Fiske. Later printing 1 Copyright date 1886, First edition, later issue. Illustrated with 29 inserted plates including frontispiece; 26 phototypes by Britton & Rey from photographs by George Fiske & others; also, 1 red plate of a snow plant, & 3 wood-engraved plates; 2 maps (1 folding, lithographed by Britton & Rey). (8vo), 21.5x15 cm (8�x5�"), pictorial cloth stamped in gilt and brown, blindstamped bear on back cover. Later issue. J.M. Hutchings (1820-1902), was a pioneer of the tourist industry in Yosemite. He was one of the first to visit there in winter and 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." Light rubbing to cloth; folding map with toning at folds, short closed tears at stub at bottom edge; a nicer copy than usually encountered; very good.