https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com Mon, 27 Apr 2026 05:44:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2026/02/1850s-san-francisco-california-gold-rush-freemans-express-paste-up-half-cover/ https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2026/02/1850s-san-francisco-california-gold-rush-freemans-express-paste-up-half-cover/#comments Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:35:47 +0000 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2026/02/1850s-san-francisco-california-gold-rush-freemans-express-paste-up-half-cover/



1850s Freeman & Co Express San Francisco X4 Paste-up Half, Paid Frank CA Coast Route Cover. Faulty with about 50% of back missing.

]]> https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2026/02/1850s-san-francisco-california-gold-rush-freemans-express-paste-up-half-cover/feed/ 0 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2026/02/1847-how-a-yankee-sea-captain-joined-the-california-gold-rush/ https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2026/02/1847-how-a-yankee-sea-captain-joined-the-california-gold-rush/#comments Wed, 04 Feb 2026 03:55:41 +0000 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2026/02/1847-how-a-yankee-sea-captain-joined-the-california-gold-rush/



1847 How a Yankee SEA CAPTAIN joined the CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH. Autograph Letter Signed (his retained copy). Hamburg, Germany, [December 9, 1847]. To Meir Krohn [Cohn]. I have been quite disappointed not seeing or hearing from you this day, as I had reason to expect. This is to inform you, that my mind is now full made up to embark on board my vessel tomorrow. Wind fair or foul, provided the weather suitable for the reason I shall desire you to pay three outstanding bills and then close my account but before doing which I must see you. Now as yet not a document of any description relative to my business. Have I yet seen. The letter, copied by Goodrich on fragile paper, is complete but separating at folds, with a lower portion which had come detached, tape repaired on verso; minor edgewear; otherwise Fair to near Good condition overall. The letter is undated except for the docketing note on verso, which looks it was originally written as 1848, then changed to 1847. But it’s probable that Captain Goodrich, having just completed a voyage from the capital of Uruguay to Europe for a German Jewish financier (the surname “Krohn” was changed from “Cohn”) had run into legal problems while stopping at the Portuguese Azores. This may have decided him not to continue transatlantic crossings which is why, in 1848, he was receptive to an offer from “Lord” George Gordon – a pretended British nobleman – to sail a group of gold-seekers in the perilous route around Cape Horn to San Francisco and the gold fields. York, is chartered to convey this Associati0on. She is commanded by Capt. Goodrich (one of the members), an experienced Cape Horn and Pacific Captain, who has made some of the shortest passages on record, sails January 18th. This Association is thoroughly equipped with horse-power Machinery, Tents and Camp Equipage. A small Steamboat is taken out for running on the Sacramento [river]. A Geologist, Assayer and Physician accompany the expedition. The first group left New York in February 1849 on the overcrowded, leaky vessel Goodrich commanded, for a hair-raising 8-month voyage around the Horn, a second group led by Gordon himself, following via the Nicaragua route, both, after great hardships, arriving in California in the fall of 1849. “Lord” Gordon, who narrowly escaped a violent conflict with his disgruntled passengers – and probably also with the irascible Goodrich – went on to become a rich San Francisco wheeler-dealer.

]]> https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2026/02/1847-how-a-yankee-sea-captain-joined-the-california-gold-rush/feed/ 0 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/12/1851-maunder-treasury-of-history-california-san-francisco-gold-rush-illus-vol-ii/ https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/12/1851-maunder-treasury-of-history-california-san-francisco-gold-rush-illus-vol-ii/#comments Mon, 08 Dec 2025 01:53:45 +0000 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/12/1851-maunder-treasury-of-history-california-san-francisco-gold-rush-illus-vol-ii/





















1851 MAUNDER TREASURY OF HISTORY CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO GOLD RUSH ILLUS VOL II. The Treasury of History; Being a History of the World: Comprising a General History, Both Ancient and Modern, of the Principal Nations of the Globe. Samuel Maunder; edited by John Inman. Henry Bill, New York. 1851 Henry Bill edition; Volume II only (of two-volume set). Handsome 1851 Henry Bill Volume II of Samuel Maunder’s Treasury of History, the expanded “History of the World” edited by New York writer John Inman and updated to include the Mexican War, California, and the rapidly changing United States. This thick world-history volume ranges from Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia to Russia, the Ottoman Empire, India, Persia and Arabia, China, Japan, Australia and Polynesia, the West Indies, and a long concluding section on the United States and its individual states and territories, including early treatments of California, New Mexico, and Utah during the Gold Rush and antebellum expansion. The book is richly illustrated throughout, with a full “List of Illustrations” for Volume II and numerous steel engravings in the text. Highlights include views of Dublin, Limerick, and Kinsale in Ireland; Scottish and English scenes such as Stirling Castle, Carlisle, and St. Andrew’s; continental subjects from the Tyrol, St. Helena, the Chevalier Bayard, Namur, and Utrecht; and a striking group of Mexican War and western-American views such as Corpus Christi, Point Isabel, Fort Brown, a view near Monterey, the charge at Buena Vista, and a Mexican funeral. One of the most desirable elements for Western Americana and cartographic collectors is the large folding tinted lithographic frontispiece view of San Francisco dated 1850, drawn during the early Gold Rush and published by Henry Bill after the celebrated view by Theodore Taylor Johnson, Charles Conrad Kuchel, and P. The original full leather binding features deeply impressed arabesque and foliate blind-stamping on both boards, still quite sharp and attractive, with gilt-decorated spine panels and red title labels; however, the spine leather is rubbed and toned with scattered darkening, small scuffs, and shallow chipping at the head and tail, and the outer joints show vertical cracking, surface loss, and rubbing along the length. Board edges and corners are rubbed through to the underlying boards in spots, particularly at the tips, and there is typical wear along the bottom edges from shelf use. The marbled text-block edges retain good color but show some rubbing and a few small scratches consistent with long use. Inside, the marbled endpapers are bright and appealing, with the inner hinges showing some stress and faint cracking at the gutters but remaining intact; the text block is still securely bound and reasonably firm for such a thick volume, with no obvious gatherings working loose in the photos. Throughout the text there is intermittent foxing ranging from light speckling to more pronounced patches on a few leaves, with some toning at the margins and a few small, old damp-stain tidemarks near the outer edges toward the rear, but the type remains clear and legible. I do not see heavy underlining or modern highlighting; as with many mid-19th-century histories, there may be an old ownership inscription or small pencil note or two, but nothing that overwhelms the text or plates. The folding San Francisco 1850 frontispiece appears complete, with its original multiple panel folds. The image area, however, still retains strong detail and pleasing color, an excellent example of this famous Gold Rush view when seen as part of the original volume. Other full-page engravings, including views of European cities, Hong Kong from the opposite mainland, Mexican War battle scenes, and American frontier scenes, show the same light foxing and toning as the text but no major losses in the images. Overall, this is Volume II only of the 1851 Henry Bill edition, in an attractive blind-stamped leather binding with marbled edges, numerous steel engravings, and the sought-after San Francisco 1850 folding lithograph still present. It will appeal to collectors of Western Americana, Gold Rush and Mexican War material, early views of California and Hong Kong, and 19th-century world histories who are looking for a solid, honestly aged example more for its content and illustrations than for strict fine-binding perfection. Make sure to see the photos above for complete details. Measures approximately 9 1/2 inches tall by 6 inches wide by 2 1/4 inches thick. The Treasury of History being a history of the world, Samuel Maunder, John Inman editor, Henry Bill New York 1851, Treasury of History Volume II, history of the world nineteenth century, universal history ancient and modern, principal nations of the globe, Mexican War history, California history, Gold Rush era narrative, New Mexico and Utah early territorial history, San Francisco 1850 fold out lithograph, Kuchel Duval Johnson San Francisco view, Sights in the Gold Region connection, Hong Kong from the opposite mainland engraving, Corpus Christi Point Isabel Fort Brown Buena Vista Mexican Funeral illustrations, Irish history Dublin Limerick Kinsale engravings, Scotland and England castles Stirling Castle St Andrews Carlisle views, France Spain Portugal Germany Netherlands Switzerland Italy Venice Rome histories, Russia Poland Sweden Denmark Norway Prussia Austria Hungary, East India Islands Ceylon Java Borneo Philippines, Australia and Polynesia early descriptions, United States history to Mexican War, outline history of the different states, New York New England Mid Atlantic Southern states early chapters, marbled text block edges, full leather blind stamped boards, gilt decorated spine raised bands style, Victorian world history reference, antebellum American expansion, Western Americana collectible, Californiana San Francisco harbor view, nineteenth century illustrated history book, early Hong Kong illustration, genealogical background reference, antique world history volume, 1850s American publishing, Harper and Bill related editions, Gold Rush map and view interest, map and print collectors source volume, rare San Francisco lithograph in book, antiquarian history of the world volume two only, decorative leather binding for display. _gsrx_vers_1730 GS 9.9.4 (1730).

]]> https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/12/1851-maunder-treasury-of-history-california-san-francisco-gold-rush-illus-vol-ii/feed/ 0 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/11/civil-war-self-portrait-cdv-daguerreian-william-shew-gold-rush-san-francisco/ https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/11/civil-war-self-portrait-cdv-daguerreian-william-shew-gold-rush-san-francisco/#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:04:55 +0000 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/11/civil-war-self-portrait-cdv-daguerreian-william-shew-gold-rush-san-francisco/



Self portrait of William Shew, a prominent Civil War-era. Daguerreotypist who was active in San Francisco during the Gold Rush. He was a case maker in Massachusetts and moved to San Francisco in 1851, setting up his “Moveable Daguerreotype Saloon” enabling him to travel. During Japan’s first diplomatic mission to the US in 1860, She made a portrait of Yukichi Fukuzawa. A philosopher and educator who was part of the embassy’s staff. The photo was among the most famous in Japanese history in its day and included Shew’s daughter, Theodora, in one of the earliest photos of a white woman to be seen in Japan. See photos for item condition and please ask any photos before purchasing. Please see Brown Vintage’s other sales for Civil War-era items, including photography, as well other Americana, militaria and vintage Star Wars toys and action figures. Thank you for looking! Albumen, daguerreotype, CDV, carte de visite, image.

]]> https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/11/civil-war-self-portrait-cdv-daguerreian-william-shew-gold-rush-san-francisco/feed/ 0 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/09/antique-cabinet-card-set-july-4th-parade-photos-1903-california-gold-rush-town-3/ https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/09/antique-cabinet-card-set-july-4th-parade-photos-1903-california-gold-rush-town-3/#comments Wed, 10 Sep 2025 20:07:56 +0000 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/09/antique-cabinet-card-set-july-4th-parade-photos-1903-california-gold-rush-town-3/













ANTIQUE Cabinet Card Set JULY 4TH PARADE PHOTOS 1903 California GOLD RUSH TOWN. EIGHT Original 1903 FOURTH OF JULY PARADE PHOTOGRAPHS from the San Francisco Bay Area East Bay Contra Costa Town of ANTIOCH. Each photographic is different view of the parade. The photographs were taken at the Antioch, California Fourth of July Parade along Second street across from the Arlington Hotel (of true crime fame in 1906 but that’s another story) which is next door to the Antioch Shoe Store R. Wall, Proprietor with the edge of the L. Meyers Store showing farther down the street. From this same vantage point each richly detailed photograph shows different scenes of the parade. Festive horse drawn carriages, Western riders, beautifully dressed spectators, decorated floats, marching bands, flower and flag draped scenery. Eight (8) original 7″ x 10″ card mounted photographs circa 1903. One mount has HOIEN, ANTIOCH, CAL embossed on the front, the rest are unmarked. VERY GOOD CONDITION: The photographs are bright and clean, the card mounts have light edgewear, 1903 is written in pencil on the front bottom margins, one mount has a penned number beneath the penciled date, one has a corner chip, the backs of the mounts have black paper remnants from being removed from an album, and a few have a penned name to the back top margin, and the mounts are slightly warped, otherwise a unique collection of original photographs. The San Francisco Bay Area town of Antioch is one of the oldest towns in California. Founded in 1850 just after gold was discovered in the region, it was incorporated in 1872 and flourished as a mining, farming, and dairy community tied to the region by the railroad and deep water ports.

]]> https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/09/antique-cabinet-card-set-july-4th-parade-photos-1903-california-gold-rush-town-3/feed/ 0 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/09/shew-half-plate-ambrotype-san-francisco-california-man-gold-rush-era-1850s/ https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/09/shew-half-plate-ambrotype-san-francisco-california-man-gold-rush-era-1850s/#comments Mon, 08 Sep 2025 19:57:34 +0000 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/09/shew-half-plate-ambrotype-san-francisco-california-man-gold-rush-era-1850s/






Half plate ambrotype behind heavy mat and cover glass in full leather case. Almost certainly a prominent businessman or political figure in the Bay Area, and possibly someone more notable? Mat is stamped Shew, bottom-left corner. Ambro is in good or better antique condition. When I had it out of the case I did see a crack through the image in the bottom-right corner, although it is completely hidden by the mat when viewing and the image is completely stable with no movement of the pieces when it’s in its case. Case is worn with separated covers; a couple of the rails are weak.

]]> https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/09/shew-half-plate-ambrotype-san-francisco-california-man-gold-rush-era-1850s/feed/ 0 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/08/half-plate-daguerreotype-idd-politician-gold-rush-miner-california-rare-1850s/ https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/08/half-plate-daguerreotype-idd-politician-gold-rush-miner-california-rare-1850s/#comments Mon, 04 Aug 2025 17:53:09 +0000 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/08/half-plate-daguerreotype-idd-politician-gold-rush-miner-california-rare-1850s/







The family is identified inside of the case, as well as on the back of the case. Fargo was born in New York, was a teacher and county clerk in Warsaw, NY before being lured to California by the Gold Rush in April’51. In 1852, Fargo and his wife were living in the mining town of Fairfield Bar, on Feather River, where his wife was the only woman. In July’52, their daughter Eva, the girl in the dag, was born there. Also notice that Marietta is in mourning attire, including mourning bands; her father Doras b. 1792 died September 27, 1853, and I believe that is who she was in mourning for… So late 1853, or very early 1854 as estimated by the writing on the back, would be accurate. By 1854 the Fargos were living in San Francisco, where this portrait was likely taken possibly by Shew or Vance? In the winter of 1860 he was elected to the Alameda County, CA assembly. A more extensive bio can be found in his obituary (see pics 5 & 6). Note that the obit is provided here for reference only and hard copies are not included, but feel free to download the scans. If you’d like a larger scan message me. Dag comes in half of its original case (6″ x 4.75″), which is missing BOTH the RIGHT and the LEFT rails. My photo shows that it has both, but I misplaced one. More condition notes: Pretty heavy tarnish ring that does not obscure the figures. The original seals appear to be intact and still in place, however under magnification I do spot a few smallish mat abrasions within the tarnish ring, so the seals are probably a bit loose and have allowed some slight movement.. The abrasions do not jump out unless you’re really looking for them. The underside of the glass is DIRTY… The glass should clean up very nicely if you open the seals and clean the underside of it.

]]> https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/08/half-plate-daguerreotype-idd-politician-gold-rush-miner-california-rare-1850s/feed/ 0 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/06/antique-cabinet-card-set-july-4th-parade-photos-1903-california-gold-rush-town-2/ https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/06/antique-cabinet-card-set-july-4th-parade-photos-1903-california-gold-rush-town-2/#comments Fri, 20 Jun 2025 16:06:11 +0000 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/06/antique-cabinet-card-set-july-4th-parade-photos-1903-california-gold-rush-town-2/













ANTIQUE Cabinet Card Set JULY 4TH PARADE PHOTOS 1903 California GOLD RUSH TOWN. EIGHT Original 1903 FOURTH OF JULY PARADE PHOTOGRAPHS from the San Francisco Bay Area East Bay Contra Costa Town of ANTIOCH. Each photographic is different view of the parade. The photographs were taken at the Antioch, California Fourth of July Parade along Second street across from the Arlington Hotel (of true crime fame in 1906 but that’s another story) which is next door to the Antioch Shoe Store R. Wall, Proprietor with the edge of the L. Meyers Store showing farther down the street. From this same vantage point each richly detailed photograph shows different scenes of the parade. Festive horse drawn carriages, Western riders, beautifully dressed spectators, decorated floats, marching bands, flower and flag draped scenery. Eight (8) original 7″ x 10″ card mounted photographs circa 1903. One mount has HOIEN, ANTIOCH, CAL embossed on the front, the rest are unmarked. VERY GOOD CONDITION: The photographs are bright and clean, the card mounts have light edgewear, 1903 is written in pencil on the front bottom margins, one mount has a penned number beneath the penciled date, one has a corner chip, the backs of the mounts have black paper remnants from being removed from an album, and a few have a penned name to the back top margin, and the mounts are slightly warped, otherwise a unique collection of original photographs. The San Francisco Bay Area town of Antioch is one of the oldest towns in California. Founded in 1850 just after gold was discovered in the region, it was incorporated in 1872 and flourished as a mining, farming, and dairy community tied to the region by the railroad and deep water ports.

]]> https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/06/antique-cabinet-card-set-july-4th-parade-photos-1903-california-gold-rush-town-2/feed/ 0 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/05/vance-14-ambrotype-san-francisco-sacramento-california-man-gold-rush-era-1850s/ https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/05/vance-14-ambrotype-san-francisco-sacramento-california-man-gold-rush-era-1850s/#comments Thu, 08 May 2025 16:50:37 +0000 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/05/vance-14-ambrotype-san-francisco-sacramento-california-man-gold-rush-era-1850s/






Quarter-plate ambrotype behind heavy mat and cover glass in full case. Almost certainly a prominent businessman or political figure in that part of the state, and possibly someone more notable? Velvet pad has the words. VANCE’S PREMIUM DAGUERREAN GALLERIES SAN FRANCISCO SACRAMENTO MARYSVILLE. Image is in excellent antique condition. Case is complete and intact with no repairs.

]]> https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/05/vance-14-ambrotype-san-francisco-sacramento-california-man-gold-rush-era-1850s/feed/ 0 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/04/12-pl-daguerreotype-idd-politician-gold-rush-miner-california-rare-1800s-photo-2/ https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/04/12-pl-daguerreotype-idd-politician-gold-rush-miner-california-rare-1800s-photo-2/#comments Tue, 22 Apr 2025 02:22:37 +0000 https://sanfranciscosanfrancisco.com/2025/04/12-pl-daguerreotype-idd-politician-gold-rush-miner-california-rare-1800s-photo-2/







The family is identified inside of the case, as well as on the back of the case. Fargo was born in New York, was a teacher and county clerk in Warsaw, NY before being lured to California by the Gold Rush in April’51. In 1852, Fargo and his wife were living in the mining town of Fairfield Bar, on Feather River, where his wife was the only woman. In July’52, their daughter Eva, the girl in the dag, was born there. Also notice that Marietta is in mourning attire, including mourning bands; her father Doras b. 1792 died September 27, 1853, and I believe that is who she was in mourning for… So late 1853, or very early 1854 as estimated by the writing on the back, would be accurate. By 1854 the Fargos were living in San Francisco, where this portrait was likely taken possibly by Shew or Vance? In the winter of 1860 he was elected to the Alameda County, CA assembly. A more extensive bio can be found in his obituary (see pics 5 & 6). Note that the obit is provided here for reference only and hard copies are not included, but feel free to download the scans. If you’d like a larger scan message me. Dag comes in half of its original case (6″ x 4.75″), which is missing the right rail and with the remaining two corners popped out a bit. Pretty heavy tarnish ring that does not obscure the figures. The original seals appear to be intact and still in place, however under magnification I do spot a few small mat abrasions within the tarnish ring, so the seals are probably not tight and have allowed some slight movement.. Abrasions are hard to see though unless you’re really looking for them. The underside of the glass is very dirty… The image should clean up very nicely if you open the seals and clean the underside of the glass. Overnight to most US ZIP codes.

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