This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/24/2025
[CALIFORNIANA]. California Series (the “Covered Wagon Babies" Set). Los Angeles, CA: Powell Publishing Company, [1928-29]. Large 8vos. Illustrated. Complete in 9 volumes. Bound in publisher's deluxe binding of full brown levant morocco, boards and spines stamped in gilt, green and red gilt morocco lettering labels on spines, five raised bands, gilt turn-ins, marbled endleaves, top edges gilt (bindings heavily worn, chipped, soiled, joints cracking several boards nearly detached, text very lightly toned at edges but otherwise generally clean). Fair. THE FAMOUS “COVERED WAGON BABIES" SET OF THE “CALIFORNIA SERIES," ALL VOLUMES SIGNED BY THE CHILDREN OF PIONEERS; #305/387 SUBSCRIBER'S COPIES. THIS COPY WAS ISSUED TO SYLVESTER LAFLIN WEAVER, WITH HIS BOOKPLATE ON ALL FPS. Weaver (1908-2002), known as “Pat" Weaver, was president of NBC between 1953-55, and is credited with changing the philosophy and format of commercial television, making it the dominant home entertainment medium. His daughter is the acclaimed actress, Sigourney Weaver (b. 1949). The “Covered Wagon Babies" were people who were born on wagon trains during the settlement of California in the 1840s and 1850s, and survived into the late 1920s. The volumes are as follows: Pathfinders (signed by the two surviving members of the Donner Party, Isabelle McMahon and Catherine M. Hecox Tilden Brown,) Spanish Arcadia (signed by the scion of one of the most prominent Spanish families in early California, Juan J. de la Guerra,) The Great Trek (signed by 6 surviving sons or daughters of the Great Trek, all of whom were executives of The Covered Wagon Babies' Club), Gold Days (signed by 5 surviving Gold Rush sons and 8 Covered Wagon Babies), Songs and Stories (signed by “The Sage of Jackass Hill," W. R. Gillis, one of Mark Twain's friends plus 4 Covered Wagon Babies,) Oxcart to Airplanes (signed by stage driver Sam Jobe and train engineer Charles C. Trott, and Pony Express rider William Campbell and clipper captain I. N. Hibbard), March of Industry (signed by early California industrialist George Chaffey and 7 Covered Wagon Babies), Land of Homes (signed by 8 Covered Wagon Babies), Outdoor Heritage (signed by 12 Covered Wagon Babies). An excellent association copy.