Souvenir and Book of Information of San Francisco. Published by and compliments of Newman’s New Russ House Montgomery, Bush and Pine Sts. Army and Navy Headquarters (wrapper title). The Gabriel Printing Co. Profusely illustrated from photographs & drawings; advertisements. 19.2×23.3 cm (7½x9¼), string-tied through punchholes. Scarce, well-illustrated promotional brochure for the landmark hotel in Old San Francisco. Much of the booklet is devoted to the hotel mascot, Lester C, known as Dewey, a massive St. Bernard weighing nearly 240 lbs, and just shy of nine feet from nose to the tip of his tail, and to Dewey’s canine friends. OCLC lists three copies, at the California Historical Society, the Huntington Library, and Yale University. The Russ House was built by Christian Russ who arrived in San Francisco with his wife and sons on March 26, 1847 from New York on a boat called the Loo Choo. He was a jeweler by trade established a jewelry shop which turned into a huge booming business when the upcoming gold rush came. In fact, he expanded to different areas of the business like assaying where he was able to take a little gold off the top for each assayer. When the Gold Rush ended, he tore down those cottages and built the Russ House which became a famous hotel and restaurant. In 1902 the new proprietor Charles Newman assumed control of the house, and expended many thousands of dollars in remodeling and refitting the Russ. The Russ House contained four hundred rooms, all spacious, well ventilated. The house had the latest electrical devices. The Russ had one of the finest Gentlemen’s café and bar in the city. There are great full pages photographs of these café and bars in the book, barber shop, as well as printed program and menu of the café. There are also photos of the Russ’ beautiful ceiling decoration and paintings, including big Henry Raschen “Discovery of Gold in 1848″. There are also some great San Francisco pre-earthquake photos, San Francisco map, as well as some great advertisements. Like most everything on Montgomery street the Russ House burned in 1906, and Charles Newman lost his business. It was replaced by three story office-building. In 1927 or so, the building was rebuilt and turned into a 31 story Russ Building which, as hard as it may be to believe, was then known for a long time as the tallest building in the West. Well Worn and dusty, the string tie is original; Was found in an estate of dusty books. I started cleaning, but did not want to ruin pages. Non-smoking home, stored out of sunlight.