Item #10966 View Of San Francisco, Formerly Yerba Buena, in 1846-47 Before The Discovery Of Gold. Capt. W. F./ BOSQUI ENG SWASEY, PRINT CO.
San Francisco Seen in its Infancy
San Francisco.
[San Francisco, (?), c. 1883-84]

View Of San Francisco, Formerly Yerba Buena, in 1846-47 Before The Discovery Of Gold.

19 x 21 inches, Colored lithograph. Light age-toning & staining along bottom margin, else excellent.

This accurate and very attractive, retrospective view faithfully captures the nascent city on the eve of the Gold Rush.  Two general officers and a political leader attest beneath the title that the view depicts San Francisco "as it really appeared in March 1847."  This is an unusually bright and unmarred example of a view that is often seen in poor condition.  It was engraved by Edward Bosqui, perhaps the best lithographer in California during the 19th century. 

Of considerable historic value, 35 residences, businesses, hotels and other buildings are listed below the view and keyed to it.  The view shows the city's first named streets--Clay, Kearney, Montgomery and Washington.   The ships in the harbor are also specifically identified by name. Arrows indicate the trail to the Presidio and the trail to Mission Dolores.  An early harbinger of wind power can be seen in the wind mill in the overlooking hills at right. This is the undated, first state described in Reps 341; the second state bears an 1884 date.

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