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The Cornerstone California Plate Book.

Deluxe Presentation Copy. Hittell Family Provenance.

A fine, extra-complete presentation copy of this, the best illustrated work of California historical and topographical interest published in the 19th century. This example includes the exceptionally rare "Synopsis of Vischer's Pictorial of California... Author's Complimentary Edition for gratifying Distant Friends", with a lithographed title page and a set of nine composite albumen photographs comprising a total of 146 images (including some composite-within-composite images), bound into the end of the text volume. Yale's example of the Synopsis includes only eight albumen composite photographs. The Library of Congress holds Vischer's presentation copy to Clarence King, with the Synopsis added.

Vischer was a prolific artist, traveler, and author. He was born in Bavaria but left early and traveled extensively before settling in California in 1849 (or '47?). Vischer's first visit to California had been in 1842. Early in his career, Vischer focused on lithography as a means of producing illustrations of California subjects, but after some of the stones for his Mammoth Trees portfolio broke in an accident, he seems to have pivoted to the faster and more versatile method of taking photographs directly from original artwork. This unusual method is characteristic of Vischer's Pictorial of California. It allowed him to play around with the size and composition of individual plates and to include the artworks of friends and collaborators such as Thomas Hill and Carleton Watkins.

Vischer's Preface evidences his keen appreciation of California's history. As a witness of the transformation of California before, during, and after the '49 Gold Rush, Vischer understood, and in some cases lamented, the changes he had seen in his adoptive home. With the Pictorial, he hoped to capture and preserve for posterity images of the California he had known but which he suspected would soon be replaced by the onslaught of settlement and industrialization.

Vischer's strong commitment to the verisimilitude of his drawings is an important theme in his writing. He goes so far as to say that he would never depict an animal or group of animals unless they actually lived in the place shown by the drawing. An amusing exception to this is the group of Bactrian camels that makes repeated appearances in his drawings. He explains this away by noting that he accompanied a caravan of camels across the Sierras to Washoe in 1861.

Composition of the Book

Because of its extremely unstable collation, Vischer's Pictorial of California has perplexed bibliographers almost since its initial publication. The number of plates included in a given set is rarely, if ever, the same. 

Advertisements in 1870 issues of The San Francisco Examiner describe the formats in which the book was initially published:

VISCHER'S PICTORIAL OF CALIFORNIA
Photographs from Original Drawings
In Five Series of Twelve Numbers each;
with a Supplement, and Contribu-
tions from Reliable Sources.

TO SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.

Subscription List open at the Author's, No. 5.5
Front street, or at the Alta office.

Terms of Subscription:
1 - The Pictorial of 100 plates (in quarto, bound half morocco..... $50 gold
2 - The Pictorial, 120 plates, the photographs mounted on Bristol board, unbound..... 50 "
3 - The Pictorial, (with the additions) royal quarto, full Morocco, superior finish..... 75 "
4 - The set of 100 Photographs, unmounted, with pamphlet.... 40 "
5 - Synopsis of the Pictorial with the pamphlet, (if desired) under special arrangements.

Perhaps following this information and the information in the prospectus, Howes concluded that the book appeared with 100 or 120 plates. In fact, the upper bound seems to have been 200 plates, with copies usually having fewer than 150.

The present set comprises the following parts and plates:

Sixty Views of Landscape

       A. Leander Ransom and A.J. Doolittle. A New Map of the States of California and Nevada. 1869

This map serves as a key for the images in the book; each plate is assigned a number, and the location at which the drawing was made is shown on the map.

1. RUINS OF THE MISSION OF SAN CARLOS, Carmelo Bay, Monterey County.
2. SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAIN RANGE; View near the Summit.
3. SCENE ON AN OLD CALIFORNIAN CATTLE-RANCHO; Eve of a Rodeo.
4. PASO DE ROBLES HOT SPRINGS, on the Salinas River, San Luis Obispo County.
5. YANK'S STATION, LAKE VALLEY; Centre of Traffic on the Placerville Carson Route.
6. BACTRIAN CAMELS, entering the Mammoth Tree Grove en route for Washoe.
7. SLIPPERY FORD, on the Forks of the American River.
8. PASS OF THE EAST SUMMIT OF THE SIERRA NEVADA, on the Placerville Carson Route.
9. LAKE TAHOE; View from below the East Summit of the Sierra Nevada.
10. SNOW FIELDS OF THE SIERRA NEVADA; Scene near Truckee Lake, looking towards Donner Peak.
11. WESTERN SHORES OF LAKE TAHOE; Tahoe City and Mouth of Truckee River.
12. GENERAL VIEW OF SIERRA VALLEY, from Beckworth's Pass.
13. CHURCH AND MISSION BUILDINGS OF SAN JUAN BAUTISTA.
14. SCENE NEAR THE SOURCE OF GAUDALUPE CREEK, Santa Clara County.
15. TUNNEL OF THE SPRING VALLEY WATER CO'S WORKS, San Mateo County.
16. FLUME OF THE UNION CO'S AQUEDUCT, above Murphy's.
17. LITTLE TRUCKEE LAKE, from Webster Station, in early Spring.
18. THE CALAVERAS MAMMOTH TREE GROVE, HOTEL AND SURROUNDINGS.
19. HOLDEN'S STATION, HERMIT VALLEY, on the head waters of the Mokelumne River.
20. FALLS OF TRUCKEE RIVER, below Little Truckee Lake.
21. VAN WAGENER'S HOTEL AND FISHERY, on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe.
22. GRANITE BOULDERS, near the East Summit of the Sierra Nevada.
23. ENTRANCE OF CARSON CANON, from the California side.
24. SILVER MOUNTAIN, Alpine District, from above Woodford's.
25. EX MISSION OF SANTA BARBARA, now a College of the Order of St. Francisco.
26. TOWN OF SANTA BARBARA (the former Presidio) AND MISSION, from the Beach.
27. MOUNT DIABLO VALLEY AND STRAITS OF CARQUINES, from the Clayton Hills.
28. MOUNT DIABLO RANGE, North view from Pacheco. (Rain Storm.)
29. SUNSET SCENE ON THE SAN LORENZO, near the Santa Cruz Paper Mill.
30. MOUTH OF THE GAVIOTA PASS, between Santa Ines and Santa Barbara.
31. THE GUARDSMEN AND PAVILION OF MAMMOTH TREE GROVE.
32. SUGAR LOAF STATION, on the American River, Placerville-Carson Route.
33. BROCKLISS' BRIDGE, AND OLD EMIGRANT ROAD AND BRIDGE, on the American River.
34. THE DOWNIEVILLE OR SIERRA BUTTES, Northeast Views, from the Washoe Trail.
35. HOWKS' STATION, Sierra Valley. (Shady Nook, Alice's Mountain Home.)
36. SUNSET SCENE, Sierra Valley, Source of Feather River.
37. RUINS OF THE CHURCH OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, AND MISSION BUILDING.
38. SANTA CRUZ, BEACH VIEW, from Capt. Smith's premises on the Bluff.
39. SAYANTE; old Capt. Graham's Ranch, near the GIANT GROVE, Santa Cruz County.
40. NATURAL BRIDGE ON THE SEA COAST, four miles north of Santa Cruz.
41. STRAWBERRY VALLEY, SIERRA NEVADA, on the Placerville-Carson Route.
42. DONNER LAKE; from the Summit Sierra Nevada, on the Dutch Flat-Virginia Road.
43. SUMMIT LAKE; on the head waters Mokelumne and Tuolumne, Sierra Nevada.
44. WEST SUMMIT OF THE SIERRA NEVADA AND DISTANT VIEW OF LAKE TAHOE.
45. KINGSBURY GRADE, the Gulch-bridge on the East descent of the Sierra Nevada.
46. TRAIN OF THE SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN JOSE RAILROAD passing San Francisquito Creek..
47. ENCAMPMENT WITH THE CAMELS, on the descent towards Carson Valley.
48. OVERLAND MAIL, PONY EXPRESS AND TELEGRAPH ON THE CARSON PLAINS.
49. RUINS OF THE MISSION OF SAN LUIS REY, San Diego County.
50. THE VALLEY OF SAN BERNARDINO, with the SIERRA MADRE in the background.
51. SANTA CRUZ AND MONTEREY BAY, from the Lime Kiln, (North of Santa Cruz.)
52. RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY, from the Geyser Mountain Trail of St. Helena.
53. ST. HELENA MOUNTAIN RANGE, North View, from the Geyser Trail.
54. PLUTON CREEK GULCH AND THE MOUNTAIN OF FIRE; Scene near the Geysers.
55. FRONT VIEW OF THE GEYSER GULCH, from the Hills near the Hotel.
56. MOUNT TAMALPAIS, NORTH VIEW, FROM SAN RAFAEL VALLEY.
57. UPPER AND LOWER CLEAR LAKE, with Mt. UNCLE SAM, from Cobb's Peak.
58. UPPER SACRAMENTO RIVER, near Colusa, with MARYSVILLE BUTTES in the distance.
59. LASSEN'S BUTTE, with the Sierra Nevada Range in the rear, from Sacramento Valley.
60. MOUNT SHASTA, as seen from the Red Bluffs, on the Upper Sacramento River.

Trees and Forest Scenes. The Mammoth Tree and California Redwood, (Sequoia Gigantea and Sempervirens;) Studies of the Pine, Cedar, Oak & Sycamore, with other Trees and the Shrubbery Peculiar to California.

1. THE MAMMOTH TREE GROVE...
2. THE MAMMOTH TREE GROVE... Introductory Remarks.
3. The "Hermit"
4. The Prostrate Father of the Forest and Surroundings
5. Skeleton of the Mother of the Forest, and Family Group
6. The Washingtonian Group with the Leaning Tower...
7. The Washingtonian Group With the majestic form of the George Washington as prominent feature...
8. The Washingtonian Group, This sketch shows the tops of the Group at a distance of several hundred yards...
9. The Californian Redwood
10. The Fremont Tree
11. The Californian Redwood
12. Forest Scene in the Santa Cruz Mountains
13. The "Soquel" Redwood Groups near Castro Gulch, Santa Cruz County
14. Forest Scene on San Geronimo Creek, Marin Cty.
15. Souvenirs of Pt. Cypress, near Monterey.
16. Cypress (Cuperssus macrocarpa) Trees of Various Ages, Sketched from Nature, 4 Miles SW of Monterey.
17. Sunset-Scene at the Cypress-Grove Near Monterey.
18. Cedar Groups in the Sierra Nevada, Scene on the Upper Mokelunne, beyond Silver Valley. Season High Summer.
19. Forest Trees of the Sierra Nevada (Western Slope)
20. Group of Oaks (White Oak) in Napa Valley
21. Skeleton of a White Oak and Oak-Grove Vistas in Napa Valley
22. Californian Natural Parks. (Surroundings of Oak-Knoll, Napa Valley.)
23. Sycamores on Guadalupe Creek [with] Sycamores on Guadalupe Creek
24. Rural Scene on the Guadalupe Creek near San Jose
25. The Graves of J. Warren Osborn, and his sister, Lucy.
26. Vistas on Guadalupe Creek, Sta Clara Cty. [with] Studies of Californian Trees and Shrubbery.
27. East View of Tamalpais and Table-Mountain from the ridge opposite San Rafael.

Supplement. Grand Features and Characteristic Ranges of Californian Scenery, with Artists' Friendly Contributions, to Vischer's Pictorial California. (Title not illustrated, but present.)

1. Yo-Semite Valley
2. Thomas Hill. Yosemite Valley.
3. Selections from C.E. Watkins' Views of the Yosemite.
4. Donner Lake and Donner Peak.
5. First Glimpse of the Sierra Nevada from near Murphy
6. Thomas Hill. Scene at the Geysers.
7. Wandesforde. Borax Lake, Lake Cty.
8. Cliff Passage near Sn. Juan Capistrano.
9. [?] Russian Settlement, Fort Ross...
10. Mt. Shasta
11. Dresel. Mount Shasta.
12. North Californian, Oregon and Columbia Scenery, with Glimpses of the Cascade Range.

Review of California's Progress. Compilation of Technical Topographical and Pictorial Subjects Mining, Agriculture and Industry, Traffic, Commerce and Shipping...

1. Oak Knoll. Napa Valley, Farm of J.W. Osborn.
2. General View of Oak Knoll-Farm. Napa-Valley. View S.E. towards Napa City.
3. Oak Knoll Farm Scenes... Dairy Corral, Sheds...
4. Scene of the gate of the principal Orchard of Oak Knoll
5. Rural Scene near Oak Knoll. Blacksmith Shop, Haystack and Surroundings of a Farm (1863)
6. Oak Knoll. Farming and Breeding Stock, and Mustangs.
7. Farming Scenes. The Dairy at Oak Knoll.
8. Harvest Scene at Oak Knoll. Granary...
9. [Untitled Scene at Crystal Springs]
10. Casa del Paso de Robles.
11. View of the Convent of Santa Barbara from the Town.
12. View from Howck's Station East Sierra Valley
13. Encampment of Mexican Arrieros in the Sierra Nevada.
14. North View of the Church and Ex-Mission of Santa Ines
15. South View of the Town, with the Church and Mission-Buildings of San Buenaventura.
16. The Mendocino Hunting Party of 1857.
17. Overland Mail Service in the Sierra Nevada.
18. Californian Method of Killing Cattle from the Corral, For Hides and Tallow.
19. "Rodeo" on a California Cattle Estate. Scene at a Californian Rodeo (Gathering and Separating of Stock)
20. "Rodeo" on a California Cattle Estate. "Driving Up" [with] "Branding of Stock"
21. [Californians Capturing Wild Horses]
22. Temporary Encampment of a party of Washoe Indians
23. Hospitalities on a Californian Farm.
24. Emigrant-Encampment at the foot of the Sierra Nevada.
25. C.E. Watkin's Views of the Comanche. Hull Afloat Alongside the Wharf. [and] Installation of the Turren-Guns on the Platform.
26. War Vessels of United States Navy of the Pacific Squadron at San Francisco.
27. Russia Squadron at the U.S. Navy-Yard, Mare-Island.
28. Fleet of the Western Union Telegraph Company at San Francisco.
29. The Whaling-Interests of San Francisco.
30. California Coast Whaling. Incident of a Successful Day's Work. Drawn for Vischer's Pictorial, by E. Moody.
31. Carcass of a Whale cast a drift by Whalers and floating ashore after being strip of the blubber
32. Arch in the Rock, near Seal-Rock-Point, on the coast near Santa Cruz.
33. [Untitled Coastal Scene]
34. Richardson's Bay and Mt. Tamalpais, from the Saucelito Bluff.
35. Carleton Watkins. Nugget of Gold, Weighing 201 40/100 Ounces.
36. The different methods of Californian Gold-Mining from Hutchings: "Miners' Own Book"
37. The different methods of Californian Gold-Mining
38. S. View of Black Diamond Coal-Ledge
39. Mount Diablo Coal Mines.
40. C.E. Watkins' Views of New Almaden and Santa Clara Valley. Village at the Mine. [and] Avenue to the Hacienda.
41. C.E. Watkins' Views of New Almaden and Santa Clara Valley. The Mind. [and] The Works.
42. Sierra Buttes - Mines Yuba County
43. Topographical Map of the Ridge Between the Middle and South Yuba and The Improvements of the Eureka Lake Water Co... by Hugo Hochholzer.
44. The Suspension Flume at Murphy's... [etc.]
45. Map of St. Helena Mountain Range...
46. Topographical and Railroad Map of the Central Part of the State of California and Part of the State of Nevada 1865... Published by C. Bielawski, J.D. Hoffmann & A. Poett.
47. East and West shaking hands [Transcontinental Railroad.]
48. Across the Continent. The Snow Shed on the Central Pacific Railroad in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
49. Opening of Tunnel No. 3 towards East [with] Tunnel No. 7 and perspective of Tunnel No. 8.
50. West-Adit of the Great Summit Tunnel. [with] East-Adit of the Great Summit Tunnel.
51. View from Mouth of the Great Summit-Tunnel toward No. 7 and Donner Lake [with] View in Tunnel No. 8 from Tunnel No. 7, Glimpse of Donner Valley and East Range of the Sierra Nevada.
52. Retrospective View from Camp 38... [with] Scene beyond Cisco, between Tunnels No. 3 & 4

Provenance

Mrs. Theodore H. Hittell, wife of one of the foremost California historians of the 19th century.
Important private California collection.