California Text-Book: Containing a grammar of the Spanish language in English; of the English in Spanish conversational dialogues in both languages, and a full description of California. Drawn chiefly from the grammar of Don Jose de Urcullu and the United States Surveys

San Francisco: Marvin & Hitchcock, 1852. First edition of the earliest school book published in California. Twelvemo. [2], [v]-viii, 258 pp.

Publisher's quarter blind-tooled red roan over vertically-ribbed brown-purple cloth with gilt spine lettering. Spine bumped and chipped with small ink smudge. Light scattered foxing throughout (mostly on first and last few leaves). Some small, light waterstaining to the upper margin of the first half. Overall, a very good copy of this fragile and rare item.

"This is believed to be the first educational work published in California after American rule" (Cowan).

This text-book is preceded by two exceedingly rare Mexican-era school books in Spanish (and one of those is a Zamorano imprint). It is also significant for the fact that it was sold by one of the earliest California booksellers, Marvin & Hitchcock, Booksellers, with their ticket on the upper front pastedown. Published in the still very young city of San Francisco, it is only appropriate that the majority of this first text-book is concerned with the Spanish language as America had taken over upper California from Mexico only three years prior to its publication. The historical essay at the rear of the book is fascinating as it gives a clear picture of how contemporary Californians viewed their new state.

Cowan, p. 101. Greenwood 320. Not in Streeter, Howell 50, Graff or Howes and only thirteen copies located by OCLC. A. Armstrong is sometimes referred to as the compiler of this work.

HBS 66585.

$2,500.