Beschreibung:

Message from the President of the United States to the Two Houses of Congress at the Commencement of the Second Session of the Thirtieth Congress. December 5, 1848 Author: [Polk, James K.] Place: Washington, DC Publisher: Printed by Wendell and Van Benthuysen Date: 1848 Description: 1275 pp. With 8 lithographed folding maps; 7 folding tables; 17 folding illustrations. (8vo) modern black cloth lettered in gilt on spine, retaining marbled endpapers. First Edition. Inscribed with a signature by former vice president John C. Calhoun on title page. With an additional signature on a tipped-in card by William L. Marcy Secretary of War under Polk in the Mexican American War. United States 30th Congress, 2nd Session. House Executive Document 1. “Includes the official announcement of the discovery of gold. This volume also contains Colonel Richard B. Mason’s famous report of his trip to newly discovered placers. It ranks as one of the most important eyewitness accounts of the Gold Rush.” Wheat. This copy lacks the large hand-colored map of the U.S., reflecting the various portions added following the Mexican War. Important message from the president, being the first official publication of the news of the California Gold Rush and containing three maps of the gold region.; in addition there are battle maps from the Mexican War. Wheat notes it "Contains Colonel R.B. Mason's celebrated report of his visit to `the newly discovered gold placer in the valley of the Sacramento,' as well as Lieutenant E.O.C. Ord's `Map of the Gold and Quicksilver District of California,' and other maps of Gold Rush interest." These are a map of the Upper Mines and the Lower Mines or Mormon Diggings, and the Upper and Lower Gold Mines on the South Fork of the American River. Cowan p.426; Howes P446; Kurutz 105; Wheat Books 30; Wheat Maps 51, 52, 54. Lot Amendments Condition: Dampstaining with consequent ripple to several leaves (only slightly affecting Calhoun signature on title page), occasional spots and soil, detailed contents listed in pencil on preliminary blanks; some dampstaining and soiling to maps and plates with a few splits and stubtears, maps and plates numbered in pencil; about very good. Item number: 315898