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Forbes, Alexander; Priestley, Herbert Ingram (Introduction) : California: A History of Upper and Lower California

John Henry Nash, San Francisco, CA, 1937

No. 38 of the Zamorano 80. Limited Edition, one of 650 copies printed by John Henry Nash. "Printed by John Henry Nash" on title page. Excerpt from back colophon: "Six hundred and fifty copies of this book have been printed in the month of December, 1937, by John Henry Nash, San Francisco." Original publisher's marbled paper-covered boards backed with brown cloth. Light brown spine label with black lettering. Marbling features black, orange, silver foil, and purple. 11" x 7 3/4." Pages [iii]-xxxi, [3]-229, complete. Ten black-and-white plates and one black-and-white folding "Map of California." List of illustrations and Introduction in front. Index in back. Pages and covers are very clean and intact overall. Binding is tight. Pages are slightly age-toned. Covers have slight corner and edge wear, minimal rubbing, and a few scratch marks. A Very Good copy. Original full title: "California: A History of Upper and Lower California from Their First Discovery to the Present Time, Comprising an Account of the Climate, Soil, Natural Productions, Agriculture, Commerce, &c. A Full View of the Missionary Establishments and Condition of the Free and Domesticated Indians. With an Appendix Relating to Steam Navigation in the Pacific. Illustrated with a New Map, Plans of the Harbours, and Numerous Engravings." Reference from the Zamorano Eighty, no. 38: "Two fine reprintes have bee made of the book: one by Thomas C. Russell in San Francisco, 1919, with the plates in color; the other by John Henry Nash in San Francisco, 1937, with a critical foreword by Herbert Ingram Priestley. Both contain the map in facsimile, and both have adequate indexes. The map, made for the book, shows upper and lower California, Mexico, and Guatemala as they were in 1839, with insert maps of the harbors of Bodega, San Francisco, San Diego, Monterey, Santa Barbara, and San Pedro. The frontispiece is a portrait of Fray Antonio Peyri of the San Luis Rey mission, and the plates show Indians and views of the missions, as well as one of a Californian lassoing cattle--a plate that appeared originally in Beechey's 'Voyages' in 1831 (q.v.). The book is of value as being the first one printed in English to relate exclusively to California, and is remarkable for the fact that the author did not see California until long after its publication. The book was written from descriptions by his agents in California. Alexander Forbes is often confused with James Alexander Forbes, British vice-consul at San Francisco in the forties. Although the two men knew each other and corresponded extensively they were not related. The author of the book was a partner of Barron, Forbes & Company of Tepic, Mexico, owners of the New Almaden mine in California. The publication of the book was supervised by the author's brother, John, in London. Forbes' California has always been considered reliable and accurate.". Book. Book Condition: Very Good. Binding: Hardcover

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