[California] Fort Sutter Papers--A Transcript Together with the Historical Commentaries by Seymour Dunbar

New York: De Vinne Press, 1921. Very Good Condition/None. [California] Fort Sutter Papers--A Transcript Together with the Historical Commentaries by Seymour Dunbar, Edward Kern, De Vinne Press, New York, 1921. 13.5 x 8.75 inches. Unpaginated.

Fort Sutter Papers, 1845-1862, printed in an edition of twenty copies under the direction of Edward Eberstadt.

This, apparently complete collection, of the Fort Sutter Papers is loose and unbound. Collation shows all 39 parts present, with some likelihood of several facsimile pages. Up to 25 leaves printed on a whiter paper. Overall, collection is in very good condition. Each of the 39 sections are laid into a lightweight original printed folder. Folders have some edge wear, and several are detached. As is.

Evident from accompanying documents, this set was previously owned by Dudley Thompson of Santa Barbara, California. Correspondence is included between Thompson and Gary Kurutz, when Kurutz served as Librarian of the Special Collections Branch of the California State Library, dated 2004. Thompson requests Kurutz to examine the libraries copy in order for Thompson to correctly order the preliminary pages. Thompson refers to his copy as "makeshift" but makes no reference to facsimile leaves. "As you know, I'm planning to have my copy bound. (I have the labels) would you please tell me if the color of your spine is the same color as that of your paper labels?" These labels which Thompson refers to are included with this set, still in the Edward Eberstadt envelope, likely from the 1920's. Also included is a cryptic note on Dorothy Sloan letterhead.

This epic project includes transcripts of the original manuscript records, orders, and correspondence assembled by Lieutenant Kern at Sutter's Fort during his two-year command. Seymour Dunbar spent the year of 1921 (after the discovery of Kern's papers) editing, annotating and providing historical commentary. The Huntington Library holds the original volumes.

The typed transcript papges within this set are original typed sheets, not copies. Surely all twenty sets did not contain typed originals. Perhaps these pages are Dunbar's original typed sheets in preparation for printing? Each typed sheet has pencil annotations in upper left corner which possibly are margin sizes or printer's notes? (See scans for example)

Included are such important documents such as Richard Kern's elaborate report to Senator Gwin on overland railway routes, and a remarkable assemblage of papers dealing with Fremont's Fourth Expedition and the fallout between Fremont and Kern from that event. Kern kept records of garrison affairs; new material is included relating to the rescue of the Donner Party and Castro's Proclamation of March 8th, 1846 is included.

Transcripts of the 161 Kern documents are grouped into 38 sections plus one addendum. Each group has an especially printed title page, historical commentary together with the main commentary, and a detailed catalogue and description of the collection in its entirety.

Only 20 copies were printed. OCLC records account for 14 of these copies. One of the rarest 20th century high points of Western Americana.

An essential set of documents in the understanding of western movement and the conquest of California.