Picturesque California (Volumes 1 & 8 of the 10 Volume Series)

New York & San Francisco: J. Dewing Publishing Co., c. 1888. Mild wear on the covers and browning that does not affect the vast majority of the illustrations. Leaves are loose in binding. Volumes 1 and 8 only.. Edition: India Proof Edition, Binding: Publisher’s decorative full grey cloth. Printed title image on top cover. Pasted and free floral and textured endpapers., Notes: This was the deluxe edition that compressed the original 30 volume periodical down to a 10 volume set. Printed on high quality India paper.

During the mid 19th century, immigration to California was reaching new and exciting peaks. In order to keep the flow of settlers coming, the J. Dewing Company commissioned artist John Muir to edit a series of periodicals called “Picturesque California.” These periodicals would show the beauty of the state and, hopefully, convince people to move there. Muir, who wasn’t the household name that he is now, took the job and gathered illustrations from numerous artists around the United States to complete it.

John Muir (April 21, 1838 – December 24, 1914) was a Scottish-American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, have been read by millions. His activism helped to preserve the Yosemite Valley, Sequoia National Park and other wilderness areas. The Sierra Club, which he founded, is a prominent American conservation organization.
, Size: Folio (485x365mm). , Illustration: With numerous illustrations and 20 (10 in each volume) full page etchings, photo-gravures and wood engravings by Thomas Moran, Julian Rix, Frederick Remington, Thomas Hill, and other prominent American artists, renowned for their portrayals of California’s canyons, mountains, and rivers, as well as aspects of pioneer life., Volume: Two books (Volumes 1 and, Pages: P. Vol 1: Endpapers with illustrated title page. Blank. Illustrated frontispiece of a horse-drawn carriage. Title page. 1-48. Endpapers. Vol 8: Endpapers will illustrated title page. Blank. Title page. 337-384. Blank. Endpapers., Category: Book Americas U.S.