Beschreibung:

In the Heart of the Sierras: The Yo Semite Valley, both Historical and Descriptive and Scenes by the Way. Big Tree Groves. The High Sierra with its Magnificent Scenery, Ancient and Modern Glaciers, and other Objects of Interest; with Tables of Distances and Altitudes, Maps, etc. Author: Hutchings, James Mason Place Published: Yo Semite Valley Publisher: Published at the Old Cabin Date Published: 1886 Description: [4], xii, 13-496 pp. Illustrated with 28 inserted plates, including: frontispiece photo-type by Gutekunst, portrait of Hutchings from a photograph by Houseworth, 20 phototypes by Britton & Rey from photographs by Isaiah Taber, George Fiske and others, 1 artotype by E. Bierstadt, 1 heliotype by Heliotype Ptg. Co., 1 red plate of a snow plant; and 3 wood-engraved plates; 2 maps (1 folding lithograph and 1 full-page); plus numerous wood engravings and photos within the text. 21.5x14.5 cm (8½x6"), original deluxe binding of half brown morocco and pebbled cloth lettered and decorated in gilt, rebacked with original spine laid down, stamped in blind on rear, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled. First Edition. First printing matching all the required points, including: frontispiece phototype by Gutekunst depicting no one seated behind the horse and a cabin without a lean-to; portrait of Hutchings is a "photo-typo" by Britton & Rey; the plate of Hutchings' Old Cabin is reproduced by the Heliotype Ptg. Co. of Boston. Some copies of the First Edition include a second plate by Bierstadt at p. [470], which is present. The "5" signature mark at the base of Page 65 is present. The folding lithograph map is printed by Britton & Rey. Cowan (I), p. 117; (II), pp. 299-300; Currey & Kruska 175; Farquhar 18a; Rocq 5206. The author, J.M. Hutchings (1820-1902), a pioneer of the tourist industry in Yosemite and one of the first to visit there in winter, was Guardian to the Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove between 1880 and 1884. According to Farquhar, In the Heart of the Sierras was Hutchings' crown publishing achievement and "...contains a great deal more...than an account of Hutchings' personal experiences; it covers more fully than any other work of its day every aspect of Yosemite Valley and the Big Trees that could by considered of general interest to visitors." Condition: Wear to extremities, original spine chipping off; hinges reinforced, folding map with small closed tear at stub; very good. Item#: 353163 Headline: Hutchings in Heart of Sierras, 1st ed., 1st issue