2005-03
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2005
This broadsheet, 8 x 10½ , has 11 different scenes of mining operations in the mountains of California during the Gold Rush years. Each scene captioned and with explanatory printed text. On the right border a full column printed with the "NAMES OF MINING LOCALITIES" (bold titled) extensive list of every gold mine area in the state. Printer signature "Hanna & Company" as well as name of publisher "J. F. Larrabee, San Francisco" and year printing 1855. Light aging; exc. Reverse side is a letter by miner Thomas Parkes (see above item) to wife in Philadelphia. There likely was a front sheet with this, now lacking; he fills page with news in a neatly penned hand about matters going on at home…" Also: "…The prospects for miners are about as good now as when I first came here. There are so many here who are making money very fast and hundreds who spend all they make. A prudent industrious man will stand a good chance to make a fortune here in 4 or 5 years. The chances here are no doubt better for an industrious man then any place in the world. …I will come home as soon as possible but I must make some money first. I look upon this as my only chance." In the margin he writes about the broadside on the reverse of the page: "the mining scenes are very true and will give you a good idea of the mode of mining."
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.