A Series of Charts, with Sailing Directions, Embracing Surveys of the Farallones, Entrance to the Bay of San Francisco, Bays of

Washington: Jno. T. Towers, 1852. 48pp, 8 plates, 6 large folding maps. Original cloth with decorative gilt stamping. Extremities rubbed, text foxed, else a splendid near fine copy. Ringgold (1802-1867) had a long and distinguished naval career. He commanded the Porpoise in the Wilkes Exploring Expedition 1838-42 where he made his first surveys of the northwest coast of America. He returned to California 1849-50 where he did the work that resulted in the present volume. He then commanded a surveying expedition to the North Pacific. Commodore Matthew C. Perry ordered him home as insane, but a medical review upon his return found him completely competent. He served honorably in the Civil War and retired as with the rank of commodore in 1864. In 1849 and 1850 the flood of emigration to the anchorage of San Francisco crowded the surrounding waters with all variety of boats in the bay itself and on the unexplored routes leading to the interior. Ringgold's set of maps served as a guide to the water routes to the gold regions. The six folding maps, all approximately 20 by 29 inches, include a general chart of the San Francisco bay extending inland as far as Sacramento and Boston, with detailed maps of some of the smaller harbors, and a chart of the Sacramento River from Suisun City to the American River. Save for the occasional short tear at the gutter, they are bright and crisp. The text offers a brief description of the region, the plates give views of harbor entrances and prominent geographic features. An important gold rush document. Kurutz 536e, Howes R303. Item #21556

Price: $3,000.00

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