[CALIFORNIA]. DAVIS, William Heath (1822–1909). Seventy–five Years in California… Edited by Douglas S. Watson. San Francisco: John Howell, 1929.
Royal 8vo. Numerous plates of facsimiles, reproductions of engravings, photographs, etc. Full red levant gilt, spine in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands, gilt–lettering and tooling in compartments, top edge gilt, broad dentelle turn–ins, crushed blue levant doublures gilt, silk moiré free endpapers (few small nicks to lower edge of upper cover). Provenance: Frederick W. Skiff (1867–1947), bookplate of the author and noted book collector. Skiff was known for his expertise in Americana and the founder of the Acorn Club. His collection of literary and historical works was considered at the time one of the most important private libraries in the United States. The collection was sold en bloc in 1947 at the Butterfield & Butterfield auction (now Bonham’s), with over 800 books selling to the Countess Doheny, becoming part of the famous Estelle Doheny Collection of American Literature which sold at Christie’s New York in 2001.
SECOND EDITION, trade issue, first published in 1889 as “Sixty Years in California”. This edition adds numerous textual content and new illustrations. Considered a “most valuable Californian reminiscences” (Howes). Howes D–136; Zamorano 27.