Rare Early San Francisco Directory
In the Original Binding
This is a very rare book, essential for collections of Gold Rush-era California. Th is illustrated throughout with advertisements from all manner of San Francisco merchants, many showing views of buildings. Most of the text is made up of a directory of residents and businessmen, with their addresses, vividly illustrating the tremendous growth in population since the start of the Gold Rush. Includes an index to 110 advertisements as well as an appendix with a detailed street directory, descriptions of wharves, public buildings, newspapers, military companies, schools, benevolent societies, asylums, hospitals, and more.
The extensive advertisements exhibit dazzling typography and several fine illustrations of business establishments, including a full-page view of Railroad House, a "First Class Hotel, Fire Proof," located at Clay and Commercial Streets, near Front. Other building views include: the Southeast corner of Sansome and Commercial Streets (Dr. Bourne's Electro-Chemical Baths); Walton House at corner of Battery & Vallejo Streets; and Eagle Hat Store, 157 Commercial Street;
Among the notable businessmen listed herein is Levi Strauss, dry goods, clothing, 62 Sacramento St.
It is interesting to note that the Harris, Bogardus and Labatt directory was considered a competitor to Samuel Colville's directory, also issued in 1856. In defense of the present work, the publisher's declared that their work was intended as a compact, easier to use directory, for busy people:
The publisher, in presenting this work to the citizens of San Francisco, would state that it is not their design to offer a voluminous work of unnecessary bulk, to catch the eye by its size, but on the contrary, to present a full and general Directory of citizens, combined with a complete record of all local information, societies, institutions, etc., in as condensed manner as possible - from the preface.
A key historical source for early San Francisco.
Rarity
As early as the 1948 Norris Collection catalogue this directory was described as "very rare." We note only one other complete example at auction in the last 25 years.