2005-03
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2005
Autograph Letter Signed "A.H. Otis", 4 pages, quarto, December 10, 1851, Nevada, California to a Judge Hale, likely in Connecticut. The writer is an incredulous witness to the odd mixture of business and pleasure that he encounters during the Gold Rush. "...I give in short an account of the existing state of things appertaining to the mining districts of Cal. The region of country affording gold is extensive, stretching from Southern Cal. to the southern boundary of Oregon, and is bounded mostly by the Sacramento River and the Nevada Sierra Mts. A population , various in character and extensive in numbers, is scattered through and over this whole extent of country...whiskey, brandy & champagne are too much used as drink...It is creditable to say that...little positive evil is the result....In addition to this is the engulfing and destroying practice of debauchery ever attended with its two fold baleful consequences, declension of purse & wasting of self, physically & morally. Among the lesser evils are the theatrical exhibitions and Bear & Bull fights...This place is notorious for the amount of gold which has been taken from the streams, ravines, gulches, and some of the hills. Not as yet being two years of age there is presented here an amount of business unparalleled by any city of the East...". Light wear and folds, else Fine condition.
Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).
Click above for larger image.