[MINING]. Pictorial California letter sheet depicting gold miners with period note.

Miners Weighing their Gold / Dream of a Prospecting Miner. San Francisco: Quirot & Co., [ca 1851-52]. Lithographed letter sheet, 10 1/4 x 7 3/4 in. (sight), matted and framed together with a period note describing the scenes in more detail, 19 x 11 in. overall.

The top scene depicts two well-armed miners looking at the assayer with anticipation. The bottom scene shows a miner sleeping by a campfire, clutching a rifle, and dreaming of himself directing laborers who are carrying sacks of gold onto a ship.

The accompanying manuscript notation reads in part, "The enclosed engraving needs a little explanation. The miners you perceive are all armed - this is necessary owing to the exposed situation in which they work - those things you seee upon the table are not Horse Shoes but Magnets for the purpose of separating the gold from the black sand. In one of the Bottles is Molasses, the other vinegar. The loaf of bread and the candle in the Bottle you perceive...The miners dream needs no explanation..."

The Emily T. and Adolphus Andrews Collection of Native American Art

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Some light creasing/folds to letter sheet, possibly restoration done to margins of letter sheet. Few creases/folds to manuscript note. Letter sheet and note not examined outside frame.

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Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

Katie Horstman

VP, Head of Department, American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

[email protected]513.666.4958

Ms. Horstman has spent over a decade specializing in historic photography and Americana at auction. During her tenure, she has overseen several notable single owner auctions, including property from the inventory of celebrated Americana and antique arms expert Norm Flayderman. During her time with the firm, she has maintained an active membership in the Daguerreian Society. Ms. Horstman holds an MA in Art History from the University of Cincinnati and a BA in Art History from The Ohio State University.

American Historical Ephemera & Early Photography Online

[MINING]. Pictorial California letter sheet depicting gold miners with period note.

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