This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/18/2024
[MORMONS]. [BRANNAN, Samuel (1819-1889)]. “Come on, O Israel, It Is Time to Go”, in The Latter-Day Saints’ Millennial Star, No. 3, Vol. VII. [Liverpool: T. Ward, February 1, 1846]. Complete issue excised from a bound volume. 8vo. [33]-48 pp. No binding, a string-bound gathering (string partially loose, some toning, mild wear, creasing at spine). On pp. 36-37 is the article, “Come on, O Israel…”, reprinted from the New York Messenger, December 29, most likely written by Brannan, advertising his upcoming journey on the sailing ship Brooklyn, from New York to California (Brannan had hoped to make California the Mormon homeland). In February, 1846, Brannan and Mormon settlers departed New York, and would land in Yerba Buena, CA (later renamed San Francisco), at the end of July of that year. As the highest ranking Mormon, Brannan was the leader of the new Mormon colony there (they would eventually settle in Alta, CA). Brannan began the first of several newspapers, The California Star. His newspaper eventually became the first to report the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill; Brannan used his insider knowledge (he had already opened a store near Sutter’s Mill) to buy up as much of the available mining equipment as he could, which he sold at a huge profit to gold prospectors who would swarm to the area. He had also tried to convince Mormon leader Brigham Young to bring the Mormons to California to establish their homeland there, but Young refused, opting instead for Salt Lake City, UT. Between his various financial speculations and the tithes he got from his Mormon colony, he became the first California millionaire (he would later lose nearly all of his fortune due to divorce and failed investments).