California- A History of the Upper and Lower California from their First Discovery to the Present Time. Comprising an Account of the Climate, Soil, Natural Production, Agriculture, Commerce, Etc. A Full View of the Missionary Establishments and Condition of the Free and Domesticated Indians. With an Appendix relating to steam-navagation in the Pacific

San Francisco. Thomas C. Russell. 1919. Spectacularly bound in 3/4 gilt ruled crimson crush grain morocco and linen covered boards.Gilt ruled spine compartments with gilt tooled pictorial vignettes depicting historical California characters. Ornate gilt tooled raised bands. Gilt titles. Marbled endsheets. Top edge gilded. Royal 8vo. 7.0 x 10.25". This Edition limited 250 numbered copies of which this in #208. Signed by the publisher, Thomas C. Russell to the limitation page. This issue reprinted Page for Page, and approximately Line for Line from the original Edition published by Smith, Elder and Company., London 1839, to which is added a new index. Illustrated with 10 colour lithographs and a folding map- complete as issued. This is a Presentation Copy from San Francisco tycoon William Sproule (Wells Fargo and Southern Pacific) to his son-in-law Eugene Kelly - owner of Kelly Donohue Bank of San Francisco. Sproule's gift inscription written in ink to flyleaf. A most rare issue. Short bump to top edge of front cover. Headpiece mildly rubbed. Several corners bumped. Mild foxing to prelims. Generally, a Fine bright crisp copy in a sumptuous binding. Howes.F-242. (Inventory #: 8673)