FROM THE ATLANTIC SURF TO THE GOLDEN GATE: FIRST TRIP ON THE GREAT PACIFIC RAILROAD: TWO DAYS AND NIGHTS AMONG THE MORMONS
by (WESTERN AMERICANA). HUMASON, W[ILLIAM]. L[AWRENCE]
- Used
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
McMinnville, Oregon, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Hartford: Wm. C. Hutchings, 1869. 240 x185 mm. (9 1/2 x 6 1/2"). 56 pp.
Publisher's brown pebble-grain morocco, covers with gilt frame and titling, smooth spine, all edges gilt. Graff 2008; Sabin 33685; Howes H785. ◆Spine and extremities rather rubbed, shallow chip to head of spine, top quarter of front board a little faded, boards just slightly splayed, isolated tiny marginal spots, but an excellent copy, internally fresh, clean, and rather bright, in a sound binding.
This is a first-hand account of the opening of the coast-to-coast railroad from a Connecticut businessman who was among the first paying passengers to cross the continent by rail. Vivid and amusing, Humason's account begins in Boston, where he departed for Chicago, heading on to Omaha. This part of the trip passed in relative comfort, but things begin to change when the train reached the Rocky Mountains: conditions became decidedly more rustic, and Humason paints evocative scenes of rough, whiskey-soaked towns populated by rowdy men. The train arrives at the spot in Utah where the Golden Spike completing the transcontinental railroad was placed just hours after the big event, only to find it deserted, containing nothing, in Humason's words, but "sand, sand, dust, dust, sagebrush, sagebrush, sagebrush!" Humason took a side trip to Salt Lake City, and was fascinated by the Latter Day Saints who had settled there, turning it into a prosperous oasis. Upon reaching San Francisco in a then-remarkable 10 days, he contemplates the vastness of the United States, filled with awe and pride. Our copy has the publisher's deluxe gilt-decorated morocco binding rather than the more commonly seen blind-stamped cloth..
Publisher's brown pebble-grain morocco, covers with gilt frame and titling, smooth spine, all edges gilt. Graff 2008; Sabin 33685; Howes H785. ◆Spine and extremities rather rubbed, shallow chip to head of spine, top quarter of front board a little faded, boards just slightly splayed, isolated tiny marginal spots, but an excellent copy, internally fresh, clean, and rather bright, in a sound binding.
This is a first-hand account of the opening of the coast-to-coast railroad from a Connecticut businessman who was among the first paying passengers to cross the continent by rail. Vivid and amusing, Humason's account begins in Boston, where he departed for Chicago, heading on to Omaha. This part of the trip passed in relative comfort, but things begin to change when the train reached the Rocky Mountains: conditions became decidedly more rustic, and Humason paints evocative scenes of rough, whiskey-soaked towns populated by rowdy men. The train arrives at the spot in Utah where the Golden Spike completing the transcontinental railroad was placed just hours after the big event, only to find it deserted, containing nothing, in Humason's words, but "sand, sand, dust, dust, sagebrush, sagebrush, sagebrush!" Humason took a side trip to Salt Lake City, and was fascinated by the Latter Day Saints who had settled there, turning it into a prosperous oasis. Upon reaching San Francisco in a then-remarkable 10 days, he contemplates the vastness of the United States, filled with awe and pride. Our copy has the publisher's deluxe gilt-decorated morocco binding rather than the more commonly seen blind-stamped cloth..
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Details
- Bookseller
- Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Medieval Manuscripts (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- CBJ1711
- Title
- FROM THE ATLANTIC SURF TO THE GOLDEN GATE: FIRST TRIP ON THE GREAT PACIFIC RAILROAD: TWO DAYS AND NIGHTS AMONG THE MORMONS
- Author
- (WESTERN AMERICANA). HUMASON, W[ILLIAM]. L[AWRENCE]
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- Wm. C. Hutchings
- Place of Publication
- Hartford
- Date Published
- 1869
- Keywords
- Western Americana
Terms of Sale
Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Medieval Manuscripts
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About the Seller
Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Medieval Manuscripts
Biblio member since 2006
McMinnville, Oregon
About Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books and Medieval Manuscripts
Phillip J. Pirages Fine Books an Manuscripts was established in 1978 on a ping pong table in a basement in Kalamazoo, Michigan. From the beginning, its founder was willing to sell a range of material, but over the years, the business has gravitated toward historical artifacts that are physically attractive in some way--illuminated material, fine bindings, books printed on vellum, fore-edge paintings, beautiful typography and paper, impressive illustration. Today, the company still sells a wide range of things, from (scruffy) ninth century leaves to biblical material from all periods to Wing and STC imprints to modern private press books to artists' bindings. While we are forgiving about condition when something is of considerable rarity, we always try to obtain the most attractive copies possible of whatever we offer for sale.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....