NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO CALIFORNIA PORTS IN 1841-42 TOGETHER WITH VOYAGES TO SITKA, THE SANDWICH ISLANDS & OKHOTSK TO WHICH ARE ADDED SKETCHES OF JOURNEYS ACROSS AMERICA, ASIA & EUROPE

San Francisco: The Private Press of Thomas C. Russell, 1930. Second Edition. Cloth-backed Boards. Near Fine/Near Fine. (xxvii) 232 pp. Presentation copy, SIGNED/INSCRIBED by Publisher/Printer Thomas C. Russell in ink on the limitation page: "Wilber F. Swett from the Printer / Christmas, 1930 / Thomas C. Russell". Two hand printed photogravure portraits of Sir George Simpson. Facsimile of last page of Simpson's report. Folding map of Simpson's route. Blue paper dust jacket. Brown linen-backed blue boards; paper spine libel (Extra label tucked in rear leaves.) 6 3/4" x 10 1/4". Dr. Swett's name stamp on front free endpaper. No. 44 of 250 limited, signed copies. From the front publisher's advertisement: "This edition has been edited and corrected, with sketches of visits and journeys made outside of California, and with a foreword, new synopses of the divisions, and an index, by Thomas C. Russell."
Apart from its historical importance, this book is a beautiful example of the astonishing presswork of Thomas C. Russell of San Francisco. After Russell's death, a San Francisco bookseller acquired the contents of Russell's printshop and produced a number of Russell's titles, and caused Russell's signature to be forged in each book. Unknowing dealers often sell these volumes as "signed" when, in fact, they do not contain Russell's true signature. Russell's signature is always in an elegant cursive style and easily identified. This copy, happily, contains Russell's true signature. But for Dr. Swett's name stamp, a Fine copy, in a Near Fine dust jacket (edgewear at spine-ends; slightly rubbed from handling; toned spine and covers), now in a clear mylar protective sleeve. ALWAYS FREE SHIPPING of our books in boxes, via media mail, to any Untied States address.