Search Results: California and the West from Caravan Book Store

Octavo (9 X 6 inches) Harbor Department City of Los Angeles, 1928. staple bound booklet of 95 pages, in stiff paper covers, numerous black and white halftone photos of harbor scenes (trains bringing cargo, streetcars bringing people, ships at wharves), birds-eye-view of harbor and surrounding area, list of steamship companies, and agents, statistical charts, and graphs, large fold-out map, attractive cover illustration of a ship being met by tugs as visualized through a port hole, original, good condition (minor age toning to covers, contents clean and intact).

A short historical introduction to the Port and its progress, a harbor engineer's report, information on fire protection, fishing, labor, trucking, industrial development, and the role of various railroads, the Pacific Electric, and aviation are among the many subjects covered.

32 mo. 5 x 7 inch original rectangular souvenir stapled booklet of 16 unnumbered pages, with color captioned photos of the famous gardens in Pasadena, California which no longer exist. Los Angeles: Engraved and Printed by the Van Ornum Colorprint Co., 1915-1920. Good condition.

Buff-colored wrappers, front cover oval cutout surrounded by the title and line drawings of the gardens; through the cutout oval, part of the first colored illustration under the cover is visible.

Large quarto (14 X 10 1/2 inches) San Francisco: David Magee, 1967. One of 475 copies printed by Robert Grabhorn & Andrew Hoyem. 171 pages printed on heavy wove paper, quarter bound brick red leather with title in gilt on the spine, patterned paper over boards, hardcover - very good condition (minor scuffing at head and tale of spine from shelf wear, not affecting contents).

Illustrated with 60 plates - full size reproductions showing examples of California Gold Rush letter sheets - one facsimile is in a pocket at the rear of the book. Also included: a selective bibliography; an index of artists, engravers, lithographers, and publishers; and a subject and title index.

A checklist and census of artists and printers who produced "... thousands of vivid pictorial records on sheets of writing paper, (that) remain the major surviving visual account of California of that era....," both during and after the California Gold Rush.

"A . . . curious blend of local enthusiasm and topical recording ...… Read More

Octavo (10 X 7 inches) Chicago: Chicago & North Western Railway Co., 1927. 48 page booklet, illustrated with captioned photos (several in color), descriptive text, five maps in color, cover is an embossed vignette of Yosemite Valley. Original, staple bound wrappers. Very good condition.

Historical and natural beauty of California are featured with colorful images and glowing adjectives.

12 mo. (6 x 4 inches) San Francisco: Marvin & Hitchcock, 1852. First Edition. 2 [v]-viii, 258 pages, original quarter blind tooled red roan, good condition, cloth boards, with wear to lower spine (lower left hinge on front cover split, but holding), gilt title at head of spine, publishers name in gilt at foot of spine, original cloth boards showing evidence of old moisture splash or spill, minor foxing on preliminary and last leaves; contents clean, intact and unaffected. Old library label beneath old inked inscription "Placed in Library because of California history contained in the (the last word is un-readable)" on front pastedown.

A fine unsophisticated example. The Norris catalogue refers to it as "The first text-book published in San Francisco."

An observation attributed to Cowan refers to it as "... the first educational work published in California after American rule." The last 12 pages are titled "Geography, History, and Present Condition of California."

Marvin and Hitchcock were San… Read More

Octavo (9 x 4 inch) circa 1930s, original promotional paper brochure folded five times to form 12 unnumbered panels printed on both sides with halftone photos and descriptive text; cover title against an orange background, headlines printed in red, Wilmington Transportation Company flag on front cover surrounded by images of recreational activities on the Island. Very good condition

"In All the World No Trip Like This"

Octavo (9 X 6 inches) San Diego, California: Liberton & Taylor, 1888. First Edition. 218 pages, illustrated with photographs and engravings, presentation inscription from W. L. Prouty who, according to the Directory of San Diego City and County for 1893-94, was the Superintendent of Streets. Good condition, original limp cloth showing wear and light stains from handling.The date and title are written discreetly on the spine.

Van Dyke was a prominent journalist who wrote several books that reflect the history of the San Diego region. In this book he states, "I have been asked to sketch the history, topography, resources and progress of the city and county of San Diego, up to date." He includes agriculture, climate, outdoor amusements, and biographies in his descriptions.

Small octavo (7 3/4 by 4 1/4 inches) Published by the Lankershim Branch of the Security Trust & Savings Bank of Los Angeles, 1923, written by the Publicity Department, Lankershim Branch, Security Trust & Savings Bank. Second Edition. 56 page stapled promotional booklet in decorative stiff wrappers, illustrated with black and white vintage photographs of scenery, portraits, prominent landmarks, and other historical images, a map, and "A Bird's-eye View of the Great San Fernando Valley;" plus descriptive text. Very good condition.

Sections on the Aqueduct, the Mission, the first California gold rush, Pio Pico, Lopez Station, Lankershim, wheat, and many other topics.

"The City as well as its Valley might well be called 'A Daughter of the Snows,' for the extraordinary community which stretches from hills to sea could not exist but for the delivery at its doors of the icy, life-giving waters from the great white flanks of the distant Sierras."

Small octavo (7 7/8 by 4 1/4 inches) Glendale Branch of the Security Trust & Savings Bank, 1927. Written by the Publicity Department, Glendale Branch, Security Trust & Savings Bank. Third Edition.

48 page stapled promotional booklet in decorative stiff wrappers, illustrated with black and white vintage photographs of street scenes, portraits, and historical images; plus descriptive text. Very good condition.

Originally referred to as "Tropico," Glendale was once part of the Verdugo Rancho. It was founded in the mid 1880s. "Glendale, the chalice for the aspirations of divinely discontented, home-loving people everywhere."

Small octavo (7 3/4 by 4 1/4 inches) Highland Park Branch Security Trust & Savings Bank of Los Angeles, 1923. Written by the Publicity Department, Highland Park Branch, Security Trust & Savings Bank, second edition. 48 page stapled promotional booklet in decorative stiff wrappers, illustrated with black and white vintage photographs of scenery, portraits, prominent buildings, and other historical images; plus descriptive text (including information about Charles Lummis). Very good condition.

The area was originally referred to as Garvanza. Located near the Arroyo Seco, the area encompasses York Valley, Herman, parts of Highland Park, and the San Raphael Hills. It is now the site of Occidental College, the home of Charles Lummis, and the old Southwest Museum.

Small octavo (8 X 5 1/2 inches) Out West Print Co., Los Angeles: Fremont Hotel, 1903. Original, staple bound booklet in wrappers, 34 unnumbered pages, illustrated with photos, portraits, and interior views of the hotel.

Good condition (some pages have old smudges, or evidence of moisture in the margins, not affecting contents).

"Compliments of Fremont Hotel Los Angeles, Cal."

"The Fremont Hotel, just completed, is located on the corner of Fourth and Olive streets, Los Angeles, California."

The crest of the hotel, which is also on the cover, was designed by Jessie Benton Fremont. There is also a historical account of Fremont, his exploits, and his family in relation to their contribution and importance to California.

12 mo. (7 3/4 X 5 1/4 inches) Sunset Magazine Homeseekers' Bureau, 1910. 32-page staple bound promotional booklet in wrappers, printed on coated stock, illustrated with black-and-white photos, and a map showing the Western United States served by several railroad lines. Colorful covers: front is a color photo of a horse-drawn buggy on the path at "Lodge Gate at Kearney Park, Fresno;" back is a color photo of red grapes hanging from a vine. "One of Fresno's Sources of Wealth." Original, staple bound wrappers, very good condition.

A promotion for farming, and an invitation for prospective homeowners to settle - all based on the advantages of climate, abundant opportunity, and wealth.

Quarto in oblong format (11 by 14 1/2 inches) Oakland, California: Thompson & West [Printed by Pacific Press Printing and Publishing House], 1880. First, Original Edition. [3] iv-vi [2], [1] 12-192 pages; eighty-seven full page lithographic views, including a double page bird's-eye-view of the Wolfskill Ranch; full page colored map showing the Western States of Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California dated 1878.

Good condition: stamped-embossed original cloth over boards, with title in gilt centered on the front cover; professionally re-backed, with new corners, new endpapers to match the period; title in gilt on spine. Loss to lower right margin of one view, not affecting that image, archival repair to tear in margin of another plate, not affecting that image; another view, and pages 19-22, 37-38, 129-130 provided in facsimile, and are compatible to the contents - the book is in otherwise original condition, with binding and contents intact.

The fine plates are of local businesses, residences, farms,… Read More

Small octavo (7 3/4 x 5 3/4 inches) San Bernardino, California: Times-Index Press, 1902. Original First Edition. 130 pages, frontis portrait of author, black and white pen and ink illustrations by Constance Farris, contents good, wrappers fragile (stiff and brittle charcoal wrappers repaired on front cover where split, repair to chip at upper right corner of front cover, contents not affected by both repairs), privately issued in a small edition, Rocq 7052, Cowan.

Topics include: Mexican pioneers, Indians, missions, San Bernardino branch mission, secularization, San Bernardino land grants, Isaac Williams of Rancho del Chino (first American to settle that part of the State of California); Mexican customs, Mormons, etc.

Small quarto (10 x 7 inches) San Francisco: Published by the Passenger Department of the Central Pacific Railroad Company and Leased Lines, Including the Southern Pacific Railroad and Connections, October, 1883. first two leaves are railroad ads for Central Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads [9]-63 pages [1], 20 illustrations in descriptive text, map, brown cloth binding, covers bordered top and bottom with line and decorative rules in blind, title in gilt on front cover. Very good condition, original cloth over boards.

The journalist and promotor, Truman, begins: "This illustrated volume has been prepared in the interest of two general classes - emigrants, from all sections of the civilized world, seeking for permanent homes in a healthful agricultural country, of the first part, and the people generally of California, of the second part, who are anxious to share their splendid lands and their incomparable climate with other industrial men and women of their own kind fron all quarters of the… Read More

24 mo. (6 1/4 x 3 3/8 inches) San Francisco, 1915. Original, paper promotional advertisement folded three times to form four panels printed on both sides in two colors, illustrated with a photo of a corner of the lobby and a rendering of the facade of the hotel across the two center panels. Very good condition (faint rubber stamp of Peck-Judah on one panel).

Located at 545 Turk Street "One Block from Van Ness Ave," "Within walking distance of all the leading theatres and cafes and situated where the street car lines afford connections for reaching every part of the city . . . . "

Oriented to the visitor of the 1915 Exposition.

Octavo (8 x 4 inches) San Francisco, circa 1920s. Original paper brochure folded twice to form 4 panels printed on both sides, illustrated with photos: on the front is a street view of the hotel, inside are views of the guest rooms, the dining room (chef A. Bernhardt, "Sunday Dinner $1.25") the main lobby, and the billiard room. Tariffs" for the hotel are listed at the back: $1.50 for rooms without bath (European Plan), $11.00 for suite - parlor, bedroom and bath double (American Plan). "Running hot and cold water in every room, also local and long distance telephone connections. Inspection solicited."

Octavo (8 3/4 x 3 3/4 inches) Oakland, California, early 20th century paper advertisement printed on coated stock folded once to form four panels printed on both sides, illustrated with halftone sepia photos of the interior rooms and a bird's-eye map on the back cover. Original, good condition (rubber stamp of Peck-Judah on one panel, not affecting contents).

Promoting Oakland and the Hotel Metropole, that burned down in 1918.

Small quarto (10 3/4 X 8 inches) Los Angeles: Warren F. Lewis, 1952. Original First Edition. xxix, 326 pages, illustrated by numerous black and white plates, original dust jacket designed by Harry Garo, bibliography, index. Inscribed by author on the half title. Very good condition (protected in its original shipping box), hardcover brick colored cloth binding, title in gilt on spine against a black background, gilt mortar and pestle illustration on front cover.

" ... a definitive study of the mission Indians: how they lived, where they lived, what they ate, their amusements, their arts and their crafts."

Octavo (9 1/4 X 6 1/8 Inches) Bakersfield, California: Kern County Chamber of Commerce, 1925. 24-page staple bound booklet in wrappers, decorative colored cover with radiant sun imagery; very good condition.

Promoting sunlight and health, coupled with heat, and pure air as the reasons to settle in Kern County.