1882 Guide for German immigrants with up-to-date California rail routes.
Californien. Veröffentlicht von der Einwanderungs-gesellschaft von Californien. (“The Immigration Association of California.”) San Francisco. No. 10 California Str. (wrapper title)
$750
In stock
Description
This first edition booklet was issued to attract prospective emigrants from Germany to California. The text provides a brief description of California and its society, with practical information such as the cost of goods and prevailing wages for unskilled and skilled labor.
The map is: “Reduced Map of the State of California Compiled Expressly for The Immigration Association of California San Francisco,”” lithographed by Britton & Rey. Below references in a printed note in red ink: “”Red ink denotes additions after proof.”
The map is Goddard’s reduced map of the state, first published in 1858 and reissued in 1871 with the addition of railroads. This issue also shows the railroads, brought up to date. The map was also used for other publications, without Goddard’s name. The additions in red ink are the names of counties and county boundaries.
The wonderful representation of the push to populate the American west, an important cultural document for both German and American history.
Cartographer(s):
Britton & Rey (1852 – 1906) was a lithographic printing firm based in San Francisco and founded by Joseph Britton and Jacques Joseph Rey in 1852. Especially during the second half of the 19th century, Britton and Rey became the leading lithography firm in San Francisco, and probably California. Among their many publications were birds-eye-views of Californian cities, depictions of the exquisite landscapes, stock certificates, and no least maps. While Rey was the primary artist, Britton worked not only as the main lithographer but was essentially also the man running the business. In addition to their own material, the firm reproduced the works of other American artists like Thomas Almond Ayres (1816 – 1858), George Holbrook Baker (1824 – 1906), Charles Christian Nahl (1818 – 1878), and Frederick August Wenderoth (1819 – 1884). Following Rey’s death in 1892 Britton passed the form on to Rey’s son, Valentine J. A. Rey, who ran it until the great earthquake and fire of 1906 destroyed most of the company’s assets.
Joseph Britton (1825 – July 18, 1901) was a lithographer and the co-founder of the prominent San Francisco lithography studio Britton and Rey. He was also a civic leader in San Francisco, serving on the Board of Supervisors and helping to draft a new city charter. In 1852, he became active in lithography and publishing, first under the name ‘Pollard and Britton,’ and then ‘Britton and Rey,’ a printing company founded with his friend and eventual brother-in-law Jacques Joseph Rey. Britton and Rey became the premier lithographic and engraving studio of the Gold Rush era, producing letter sheets, maps, and artistic prints.
Jacques Joseph Rey (1820 – 1892) was a French engraver and lithographer born in the Alsatian town of Bouxwiller. At the age of about 30, he emigrated to America, eventually settling in California. Here, he soon entered into a partnership with local entrepreneur and civic leader Joseph Britton. Three years later, Rey also married Britton’s sister, allowing his business partner and brother-in-law Britton to live in their house with them. Rey and Britton were not only an important part of the San Francisco printing and publishing scene but also owned a plumbing and gas-fitting firm. In the early years, both men would sometimes partner up with others on specific projects, but by the late 1860s, their partnership was more or less exclusive.
Condition Description
Booklet is 15 pages and measures 41 x 33 cm (16 x 13 in). 8vo, with original yellow printed wrappers. A little soiling to wrappers, map with short edge tear; very good or better.
References
OCLC/WorldCat lists only five copies of the booklet.
