EINE BLUME AUS DEM GOLDENEN LANDE ODER LOS ANGELES

Prag: Druck und Verlag von Heinr. Mercy, 1878. First Edition. Hardcover. Very good. One of the most comprehensive descriptions of Los Angeles and the surrounding county in the 1870s was a German account published in Prague by an Austrian author whose home was in Rome. Ludwig Salvator (1847-1915) was born and raised in Florence and lived in Rome after the age of twelve. He became quite the scholar, with a fluency in twelve languages and an interest in natural science. After 1870 he began a series of voyages to far-off lands throughout the world and wrote detailed descriptions of these exotic lands into a series of books. Eine Blume aus dem Goldenen Lande, oder Los Angeles (translated: A Flower from the Golden Land, or Los Angeles) was an early work by Salvator and one of his most enduring. He visited Los Angeles in the winter of 1876, and proceeded to interview its prominent citizens and gather statistics on its history, natural history, and commercial enterprises. From these he produced a thorough review of El Pueblo and the surrounding valleys." Small octavo: xii, 257 p. with 13 plates and 3 textual engravings. Original red cloth binding, with decorative gilt and black stamping. Closed tear to the fore-edge of the dedication page. Typical mild browning to the contents, with a bit of minor foxing as well. The spine is darkened just a touch, with some general edgewear, including a bit of fraying to the top of the rear joint; else very good. The Dawson Eighty 62.