Mammoth Trees of California - (Calaveras County) (Sequoia Gigantea) - Presented to the Subscribers of the Cincinnati Weekly Times

Very Good. Color engraving by G.K. Stillman of the Mariposa Grove in Yosemite. Engraving measures 21" x 27" (including margins). Printed by the Times Steam Job Color Press Print. Engraver's imprint in the lower left corner: "G.K. Stillman, Engraver, 4th & Walnut, Cin." No date but likely 1870s or later. This engraving is linen backed and the colors are still bright. There are 7 tears along the margin that measure between 1" - 2 ¼" each, all have been repaired, and there are a handful of smaller tears; minor loss in lower right corner (in the margin) measuring about 1" x ½" in total which has also been repaired; light soiling and foxing in the margin. From Currey & Kruska: "A fanciful engraving of the Calaveras Grove, showing the principal trees, living and dead, grouped around the hotel. The text identifies the trees and provides minimal information. The Big Tree Stump is depicted without a structure on it, and The Mother of the Forest is shown with scaffolding still in place. However, style, printing and paper would indicate a date circa 1870s or later" (Currey & Kruska 246). This engraving depicts an early version of the Wawona Hotel nestled in the Mariposa Grove (not the Calaveras Grove as Currey & Kruska state) of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite. The eight keyed (A-H) descriptions of the tree tell the tree's name, circumference, and current height or height while standing. Visitors depicted in the engraving are all over the place: sitting on, climbing up and riding through the Giant Sequoias. The red and greens in the engraving were well done and still fairly bright. A nice tribute to the big trees of California. .