A STROLL THROUGH THE DIGGINGS OF CALIFORNIA; (The Bookcase Series, No. IV) de Kelly, William - 1852

London, England: Simms and McIntyre, 1852. Hardcover. Good Plus. 12mo, 7.25 in. x 4.75 in., pp. 240. Contemporary paper covers with decorative brown design and dark green title to front and back; spine reinforced with light brown cloth tape. Rounded corners. Rubbing to extremities with corners showing. Spine cloth shows four inch separation at rear gutter. Tipped in at half title page is a presentation slip (4.5 in. x 3.5 in.) indicating book was rewarded to a student at Dalmonach School in 1856. Two inch closed tear to p. vii/viii. Light age-toning to pages with occasional spotting. Spine and hinges tight. Englishman William Redmond Kelly (1791-1855) visited California in 1849 and 1850, and his account of that trip was widely read. An excursion to California (1851) is the two-volume account of Kelly's trip to the American West. The second volume (presented here) was published separately the next year as "A stroll through the diggings of California." Here Kelly describes gold prospecting and life in mining camps on the Sacramento River and Rock, Middle, and Salt Creeks as well as visits to Sacramento, San Jose, and San Francisco. Throughout, he offers details of daily life and work and observations on native ethnic groups and European immigrants. This is the first edition of the one-volume issue, published as Number IV of The Bookcase series. (from Library of Congress). Sabin 37321.