[CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH]. -- [FRÉMONT, John C. (1813-1890)]. Die Reise nach Californien. Nach dem französischen bearbeitet von Eduard Suhren. [A Voyage to California. From the French, edited by Edward Suhren]. [Hanover, 1855].
8vo. 32-page German manuscript, a poetic or theatrical composition dealing with California and dedicated to Queen Marie, Consort of King George V of Hanover, during the California Gold Rush. Dedication page, written in French, signed and dated by “Gontard” who was an affluent art collector and chairman of an elite German art museum, and who had evidently just met the Queen in person at the Exposition Universelle in Paris. Red morocco by Hof-buchbinders Wilhelm Ermold (binder to the Royal Hanover Court), gilt-stamped with a crowned monogram “M” for Marie, royal blue cloth endpapers, satin bow dividers (evidence of an embedded gift-wrapping ribbon to boards, slight foxing to first few leaves, some rubbing, mild soiling, boards a bit bowed).
The ambiguously titled manuscript may be a German rendition of the French theatrical opera by Dondey Dupré titled “Le voyage en Californie ou notice explicative du panorama” which concerned travels across the United States and explorations in the West - by John Charles Fremont, first explorer to cross the Sierra Nevada in winter, foremost US Senator, abolitionist, who prospered during the California Gold Rush. Content includes the explorer’s sighting of pines in the Sierra Nevada oak forest at 3500 feet, melting gold, and so forth. Frémont’s father was a native of France, who died only eight years after the French Revolution. As such, his gallant endeavours and accomplishments in the New World would certainly garner much attention in France, as with other European nations with colonies abroad. The French opera was first publicly performed on 8 August 1850 in Paris, at the Théâtre des Variétés. Gontard, who met the queen, and dedicated this manuscript to her, may have been involved in a German production, performed for the House of Hanover. A unique manuscript volume, bound in the Royal Court of Hanover, written at the height of the California Gold Rush and featuring historic Americana content.