New York and London: George P. Putnam; Richard Bentley, 1850. First edition. 2 volumes, 8vo. 8 tinted lithographs. Light spotting throughout. Original blind-stamped green cloth, gilt-lettered spines, spines lightly rubbed; contemporary ownership inscription on front free endpaper. Howes T43; Kurutz 618c; Sabin 94440; Streeter 2654; Wheat Gold Rush 204; Zamorano Eighty, 73.

First edition, American issue. “This work by an eminent writer and artist is probably the outstanding book on the early gold rush in California. The author’s description of the Constitutional Convention at Monterey is the best we have, as are also the views he gives us of the earliest mining camps. The colored plates are beautifully tinted works of art depicting San Francisco, Monterey, Sacramento, and the mining camps. Bayard Taylor saw everything and recorded everything he saw” (Zamorano).