Lot 1380: MARRYAT, SAMUEL FRANCIS. 1826-1855. Mountains and Molehills or Recollections of a Burnt Journal. London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1855.

Mountains and Molehills or Recollections of a Burnt Journal. London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1855. x, [2], 443 pp. 8 colored or tinted lithograph plates and wood-engravings in the text after the author. 8vo. 19th century half blue calf over marbled boards, gilt-lettered red morocco spine label, t.e.g., by Potter & Sons, slipcase. One plate with margin extended, generally internally clean, binding rubbed.

First edition. The British edition with the desirable colored lithographed plates not found in the American edition. Marryat began his narrative in April, 1850 in sight of the town of Chagres. He arrived in San Francisco on June 14, 1850 and the following year mined for quartz in the Tuttletown, Tuolumne County region. The work is interesting not only for his descriptions of mining, but also for the vividly illustrated account of early San Francisco. Cowan p 416; Howes M299; Kurutz 429a; Sabin 44695.
Provenance: Bruce E. McKinney.