America's Wonderlands; A Pictorial and Descriptive History of Our Country's Scenic Marvels as delineated by Pen and Camera | More than 500 Magnificent Photographic Views by Buel, J. W - 1893

Philadelphia: Historical Publishing Company, 1893. First Edition. Good. Oblong pictorial, [9.25x12.25in]; 503 pp., 500 full page and in text images, several in tinted colors, most in tinted and black and white photogravure images of landscapes, transportation, and people; Teal cloth covers with embossed gilt lettering and black ink floral illustrations on front and spine, light teal patterned end papers, all edges trimmed; Some wear to covers, edges and corners with light soiling, a few dark spots with rubbing to edges joints and covers, corners bumped with some fraying of cloth, top and bottom of darken spine frayed, front and back hinges cracked and loose with partial separation, most of front free end paper missing, minor insect damage along edges of end papers, text and images with minimal age toning and wear, prior owner ink signature on front blank page. Note, book is very heavy and will require added shipping. This is an interesting and comprehensive book of narratives and captioned photographs for the late 1880's to early 1890's. These pictorial books were very popular after the Civil War with a greater public interest to travel and in the West. The improved and expanding railroad network and improved field photography equipment, the public and photographers went traveling. Also, the continued improvements in lithography and presses allowed for better and less expensive printing of illustrations and photographs. In 1872, The D. Appleton company published 'Picturesque America', one of the first comprehensive pictorial books of artist illustrations on the landscape of America in the 1870's. This book by Buel is very similar in style and volume depicting America 20 years later using photographs. The photogravure images are tinted in a light sepia and purple tints, multiple colors, and black and white.

An estimated 20 different publishers in the same or different cities publishing this book with dates of 1893 and 1894. The 1893 edition was copyrighted in 1893 by H. S.Smith and published by many different publishers and printers with different bindings. As to which publication was released first has not been identified, however the 1893 edition by the Historical Publishing Company, Philadelphia, appears to be held by a large number of libraries and is assumed to be, at least, an early release of the book. The 1894 Canadian publication appears with a different copyright date and no identification of Mr. Smith.

This book was from the library of the late Dr. G. Warren Smith of Pennsylvania. He had a long career as university professor and administrator, and was a collector of over 6,000 books, maps, illustrations, and artifacts relating to the Arctic, Alaska and Pacific Northwest.