California lettersheet collection

Details

Title: California lettersheet collection
Date: circa 1850-1870
Identifier or Call Number: Kemble Spec Col 09
Scope and contents: The collection consists of California lettersheets, mostly pictorial, created approximately between the years 1850 and 1870, with the bulk dating from the 1850s. Pictorial lettersheets are illustrated with lithographs or wood engravings depicting California and Western themes. Intended to be used as stationery during and after the California Gold Rush, these lettersheets served as a kind of reportage, depicting important events and popular stories of the day. Common illustrated topics and scenes include: murders and executions; the San Francisco Vigilance Committee; natural disasters, especially fires (San Francisco) and floods (Sacramento); the Gold Rush; mining life (from perspectives sentimental, cautionary, and comic); festivals, holidays, and parades; buildings and street scenes; and views of San Francisco, Sacramento, and towns throughout the state's mining region.
Finding Aid: http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8rx9dfv

(1 - 17 of 17)

Title: Assassination of James King of Wm. By James P. Casey. San...
Description: This rare trial proof does not include the text of the final version. The caption "Funeal of Js. King" is misspelled.

Title: Benicia and Straits of Carquinez from the sout [sic] east...
Description: Two illustrations of Benicia from different vantage points, with the following identifications: Martinez ferry; steamboat lan...

Title: Downieville, Sierra County, Cal.
Description: Sketched by Mrs. M.N. Horton [Herton?]. Lith. of Cooke & LeCount S. Francisco. Entered according to act of Congress in the ye...
Gift of Lowell J. Hardy.

Title: The first trial and execution in San Francisco on the nig...
Description: Del. after the nature by W.C.K.
Depicts the hanging of John Jenkins, a "Sydney man," from the rafters of the San Francisco Custom House in the Plaza. A sign ...
Written in pencil on back: "neg no 4543 A371 B-79."

Title: Grand admission celebration. Portsmouth Square, Octr. 29t...
Description: Separated from the Charles O. Brewster letters and miscellany, MS 213.

Title: The Jolly old miner
Description: Humorous illustration of a drunk miner riding backwards on his horse, with two laughing miners at his left, and text below.
Caption reads: "What! -- Jim!.. Come home tight again? -- No, I an't tight: I'v been knocket of my horse and robbed, after ro...

Title: Map of the burnt district of San Francisco, showing the e...
Description: Map of the burnt district of San Francisco, showing the extent of the fire. And also the brick, iron, and adobe builddings [s...
Map of the burnt district, bounded by Pine, Dupont, Vallejo, and Front Streets. The map identifies fifty-four destroyed build...

Title: Prospecting on Feather River.
Description: Depicts two miners crossing Feather River on a fallen tree, dwarfed by a waterfall, boulders, trees, and a cloudy sky.

Title: San Francisco--California.
Description: Panoramic view of San Francisco from Nob Hill to the east over North Beach.

Title: Sn. Fo. the morning after the great fire of May 4th. View...
Description: View to the west of the burnt area, showing empty lots and the shells of destroyed buildings. Signs for Dewitt & Harrison, Ed...

Title: The times!!!
Description: Illustration of the arrest of an arsonist, with the state prison and a Vigilance Committee hanging juxtaposed in the background.

Title: View of the plaza of Marysville, Alt. Calif.
Description: Crowded, carnivalesque scene of the river, levee, and town of Marysville, including illustrations of the boats Ella P., Rose ...

Title: View of the plaza of San-Francisco.
Description: View of a large crowd watching a parade in the San Francisco plaza, with buildings in the background identified by the follow...

Title: What we want in California. From New-York direct. Family ...
Description: Two illustrations, depicting the arrival of a train (with the flag "USM") in California, being greeted by a crowd including a...

Title: Grand admission celebration. Portsmouth Square
Description: Sold by Cooke & Le Count Montgomery St.
Written in pencil on back: "File: Charles O. Brewster Papers in MSS. Coll." Written in pencil on back: "CHS 9B-90) 483."