Life on the Plains and Among the Diggings; Being Scenes and Adventures of an Overland Journey to Caifornia: with Particular Incidents of the Route, Mistakes and Sufferings of the Emigrants, the Indian Tribes, the Present and the Future of the Great West

Auburn & Buffalo: Miller, Orton & Mulligan, 1854. Decorative Cloth. Very Good +. A well-preserved, very presentable copy of the 1854 1st edition, 1st issue (with pg. 219 misnumbered "119" and with "Stereotyped by Derby and Miller, Auburn" on the copyright page). Original blindstamped publisher's cloth, with bright gilt-titling and device along the spine. Very light fading to the spine, very mild, forgiveable spotting to the panels. Internally clean as could be, with no writing or markings to speak of. 12mo, 384 pgs., 4 plates. Housed in a handsome half-morocco custom slipcase, with matching custom chemise. "One of the best 'forty-niner' narratives", Howes D230. "This may be the most interesting of all early California overland books. Delano arrived via the Lassen-Applegate trail across the Black Rock desert and over the Sierra to Goose Lake." Mintz 121. "Left St. Joe about April 20th, 1849, arriving at Feather River, Sept. 9th. This is one of the most interesting of all California books. It was written in 1852. Delano came originally from Auburn, New York, and was living in Ottawa, Illinois, when the gold boom broke out. He became a well-known and prosperous banker in Grass Valley, where he finally made his home, and became locally famous as "Old Block". He wrote many characteristic mining stories, illustrated by noted California artist, Charles Nahl." Graff 1042.