In the Heart of the Sierras. The Yo Semite Valley, Both Historical and Descriptive: And Scenes by the Way. Big Tree Groves. The High Sierra, with Its Magnificent Scenery, Ancient and Modern Glaciers, and Other Objects of Interest; with Tables of Distances and Altitudes, Maps, Etc.
Yo Semite Valley and Oakland: Published at the Old Cabin and at Pacific Press Publishing House, 1886. Numerous photographic plates, woodcuts, maps. Cloth over boards. Tall octavo. xii, 13-496 pages.
Beautiful copy of this crowning achievement of J. M. Hutchings' career as the dominant pioneer of tourism in Yosemite. According to Farquhar, the present work "covers more fully than any other work of its day every aspect of Yosemite Valley and the Big Trees that could be considered of general interest to visitors."
This is a second printing (state A) in the same year as the first, as identified by Currey and Kruska, and includes extra plates not called for in the list of illustrations at front. The illustrations are the finest available at the time.
Hutchings was the first to visit the valley in winter, served as official Guardian of the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove from 1880-1884, kept a hotel, etc. His obituary called him "the father of Yosemite."
A nicely preserved example of this important Yosemite item.
Ref. FARQUHAR 18b; CURREY AND KRUSKA 175.
Bound in mustard cloth over bevelled boards, all edges gilt, upper board and spine with scenes and titling stamped in gilt and black, lower board has a large bear in profile stamped in blind, with floral patterned endpapers. Mild rubs with a few shallow bumps to extremities, short tear at bottom inner margin of front endpaper, small brown stain to lower fore corner of a few leaves at rear. Folding map at front has a clean 2" tear at attachment point. Hinges sound, pictorial binding generally bright. Near fine overall. A lovely copy.
Item #1712
Price: $425