California Pictures in Prose and Verse

New York: Hurd and Houghton, 1878. First Edition. Presentation, SIGNED to "Julia H. West, Cambridge, Oct., 1877. From the Publisher." 8vo. vi, [3], 10-344 pp. Frontispiece and 12 plates (with tissue guards) from photographs and sketches (including 6 after illustrations by William Keith but drawn by Thomas Moran or W.H. Gibson). Printed by the Riverside Press. Publisher's green cloth, decoratively stamped in black and gilt on front cover and spine, rear cover stamped in blind, all edges gilt. Slight smudge on front cover, else a fine, bright copy. Avery was one of the leading forces behind the "Overland Monthly," and became, with Bret Harte, one of its editors. This and a volume of poems from the "Overland" are all that remain of his literary output. The title is rather misleading. The book is primarily made up of narrative descriptions of California scenery, interspersed with a tiny bit of poetry. Descriptive sections include, "Mountain, Lake, and Valley," "Up the Western Slope," On the Summit (of the Sierra Nevada)." "Head-Waters of the Sacramento," "Ascent of Mount Shasta," "The Geysers," "City Scenery," "Santa Cruz Mountains," "The Frist People," and "The Trinity Diamond" (mining on the Trinity River). Plates include images of Yosemite Falls, Donner Lake, Mount Shasta, Mount St. Helena, Mount Tamalpais, Mount Diablo, Loma Prieta, and others. (Cowan pg. 24).