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Life in California: During a Residence of Several Years in That Territory [163245]

Currency:USD Category:Books / Antiquarian & Collectible Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 1,500.00 USD
Life in California: During a Residence of Several Years in That Territory [163245]
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Life in California: During a Residence of Several Years in That Territory: Comprising a Description of the Country and the Missionary Establishments, with Incidents, Observations, Etc., Etc. Illustrated with Numerous Engravings by an American. To Which Is Annexed a Historical Account of the Origin, Customs, and Traditions, of the Indians of Alta-California. ROBINSON, Alfred (1807-1895)]. Translated from the Original Spanish Manuscript. [With:] BOSCANA, Geronimo (1775-1831). Chinigchinich; a Historical Account of the Origin, Customs, and Traditions of the Indians at the Missionary Establishment of St. Juan Capistrano, Alta California: Called the Acagchemem Nation; Collected with the Greatest Care, from the Most Intelligent and Best Instructed in the Matter...Translated from the Original Spanish Manuscript, by One Who Was Many Years a Resident of Alta California. New York: Wiley & Putnam, 1846. xii [2] 341 pp. (2 works in one vol. with continuous pagination), 9 lithographic plates (views, portraits) by G. W. Endicott after Robinson's original artwork. 12mo, original dark brown blindstamped cloth, title in gilt on backstrip, orange and cream patterned endpapers. First edition of "the first book in English about California which was written by a resident" (Huntington Library, Zamorano 80...Exhibition of Famous and Notorious California Classics 65). American Imprints 46:6084. Blumann & Thomas 5091. Cowan I, pp. 193 & 276: "These two works were issued together, being paged continuously.... One of the most useful sources of authority of its time." Cowan II, pp. 536-37. Graff 3525. Hill, p. 256. Holliday 940. Howell 50, California 211. Howes R363. LC, California Centennial 43. Libros Californianos (Wagner & Hanna lists), pp. 25, 68; pp. 47-49 (Powell commentary): "Both [William Heath] Davis [q.v.] and Robinson were traders, buying hides and tallow and selling manufactured products of New England from the Boston ships in their charge. The traders played an important role in bringing California beneath the Stars and Stripes. California had become 'gringo-minded' as the result of the infiltration of American commodities...and its subjugation was practically complete long before the wily Frémont crossed the Sierra, or Sloat sailed into Monterey. Had it not been for this placid commercial invasion, the conquest, with the pitifully small military and naval force then available, would have been greatly delayed.... Curiously, Richard Henry Dana was a common seaman on the Alert, chartered to Bryant, Sturgis and Company of Boston, whose agent in California was Alfred Robinson. The two came into contact frequently." Norris 3289. Rocq 17121, 6226., "The first book in English written by a resident of the province", Streeter Sale 2512. Walker, A Literary History of Southern California, pp. 32-36: "Robinson's purpose in translating and illustrating Boscana was the same as his purpose in writing his account of life in Californiaóto tell the truth as accurately as he could. Because he did so with both grace and imagination his book is one of the most reliable and interesting documents dealing with Spanish California." Zamorano 80 #65 (J. Gregg Layne): "Without doubt the most important book for the period it treats." Dana's Two Years before the Mast makes it into every bibliography on the history of the cattle trade, but Robinson is totally ignored. In 1828 Robinson made his first voyage to California in search of hides and tallow. He helped develop the area of La Playa, known as "Hide Park," for curing hides and selling goods from New England. Robinson's business in the hide trade was booming by the time Dana arrived on the Pilgrim in 1835. Robinson left us one of the important accounts of California rancho life and the hide and tallow trade. The beautiful lithographic plates after the author's original artwork illustrate Mission San Luis Rey, Mission San Gabriel, Mission Buenaventura, Yerba Buena, and Santa Barbara (three views) and portray a Native American of California and Father Boscana. Peters, California on Stone, p. 82 & plate 59. Samuels & Samuels, Encyclopedia of Artists of the American West, pp. 402-403. Van Nostrand, The First Hundred Years of Painting in California, pp. 11-12, 119: "[Robinson's drawings] are of interest as the earliest known views by one who became a long-term resident of the state." Van Nostrand & Coulter, California Pictorial, pp. 36-37 (reproducing the frontispiece of Santa Barbara). See also Nancy Dustin Wall Moure, Loners, Mavericks & Dreamers: Art in Los Angeles before 1900 (Laguna Art Museum, 1993). Robinson's work is without doubt the most important book for the period it covers and is important as the first English book on California to be written by a resident of the province. Binding is in very good condition as is contents, some minor spotting and foxing to interior, a very good copy. SR 3-30-11-7

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