James Mason Hutchings of Yo Semite; A Biography and Bibliography [with Prospectus]

San Francisco: The Book Club of California, 2009. First Edition. Fine. Signed, Limited to 500 copies, Large Quarto [13.25x10in]; xv, 324 pp., frontispiece of Kings River Canyon view of Mt. Hutchings, 92 images and illustrations, some in color throughout text, extensive appendices, endnotes, references, bibliography and index; Forest green linen cloth covers with black linen back strip, gilt lettering on spine, inset paper label with title and illustration of Yosemite on front, watercolor illustration of Yosemite Valley from Mariposa Trail [1889, Andrew Melrose] on front and back end papers; Negligible shelf wear, minor scratch to lower spine, signed by author on half-title page and four-page prospectus tipped in. [BCC #225]. James Mason Hutchings (1820-1902) was one of the many Englishmen that came to California in 1849 for the Gold Rush. He made his fortune in mining and was one of the early promoters of the wonders of Yosemite Valley and the National Park. As a businessman, he established a hotel in the valley floor and, after named as a State Park in 1864, he claimed land under preemption laws. He lost his claim and was banished from the valley.

In the preface, Kruska notes "Writing an accurate biography of James Mason Hutchings is like trying to catch a greased Yosemite pig - once you think you have your arms around the subject, it squirts off in another direction." The first part of the book is a chronology of Hutchings and the second an annotated bibliography of known Hutchings publications. This is a comprehensive work on a large part of the early Yosemite story and belongs on every Yosemite collectors bookshelf.