Yosemite: Its Wonders and Its Beauties by HITTELL, John S - 1868

A Beautiful Copy of the First Guide to Yosemite, With Twenty Photographs by Muybridge. [MUYBRIDGE, E.J., photographer]. HITTELL, John S.. Yosemite: Its Wonders and Its Beauties. With Information Adapted to the Wants of Tourists About to Visit the Valley...Illustrated with Twenty Photographic Views Taken by "Helios," [Edweard J. Muybridge] and a Map of the Valley. San Francisco: H. H. Bancroft and Company, 1868. First edition of the first guide to Yosemite. Twelvemo (7 1/4 x 4 1/2 inches; 184 x 112 mm). [i]-vi, [2], [9]-59, [1, blank], [3, ads], [1, blank] pp. With twenty original mounted black and white photographs by Edweard J. Muybridge and the scarce double-page lithographed map by Britton and Rey. Publisherís original green cloth over beveled boards. Boards ruled in blind. Front board lettered in gilt. Brown coated endpapers. Plate 13 with very minor traces of adhesion. Due to the mounting, pages are slightly warped, as usual. A near fine copy with no traces of foxing and very bright photographs. Housed in a full green morocco clamshell. "This work is described by Farquhar as the first guide book to the Yosemite. He also identifies the photographer as Eadweard Muybridge, the pioneer photographer whose work led to the development of cinematography" (Streeter, 2917). "The sublimity, the variety, and the unparalleled greatness of the scenery of Yosemite, render it worthy of illustration by pen and picture. The people of California feel a general interest in the valley, which is one of the most remarkable natural features of their wonderful State. Many have visited the grand chasm, and want something to recall by association the adventures of their trip and the pleasures of their stay. Others intend going, and wish advise in regard to the most impressive views and the best method of traveling. And all desire to be familiar with the general appearance of that world-famous collection of cliffs, cataracts, domes and dells. This book is published to supply the want. It is small so that it can be used as a guidebook; it is cheap so as to be within the reach of all; it is illustrated so that the reader can see the mirror held up to nature; and the illustrations are photographs, because no engravings could do justice to the scenes, or convey perfect confidence in the accuracy of the drawings of such immense elevations as those of Tutucanala and Tissayac." (Hittell, preface iii-iv). Farquhar 8. Howes H542. Streeter 2917. HBS 64813. $32,500