Important Coastal Surveys Leading to the Gold Region

"[Lot of 5] [4 Coast Charts] [with report] A Series of Charts with Sailing Directions", Ringgold, Cadwalader

These charts of the San Francisco Bay and associated headwaters were produced by Cadwalader Ringgold, who had a long and distinguished naval career, including commanding the Porpoise in the Wilkes Exploring Expedition from 1838-1842 where he made his first surveys of the northwest coast of America. In 1849 he returned to California where he completed the work A Series of Charts, with Sailing Directions… that resulted in the present charts, which was precipitated by the flood of emigration to the anchorage of San Francisco and on the unexplored routes leading to the interior.

Ringgold's set of maps served as an important pilot guide to the water routes leading to the gold regions. There were a total of six maps issued with his report, of which this lot includes four:

A. General Chart Embracing Surveys of the Farallones Entrance to the Bay of San Francisco..., (30.3 x 20.5").
B. Chart of the Bay of San Pablo Straits of Carquines and Part of the Bay of San Francisco California, (20.6 x 30.5").
C. Chart of Suisun & Vallejo Bays with the Confluence of the Rivers Sacramento and San Joaquin California, (30.4 x 20.4").
D. Chart of the Sacramento River from the Suisun City to the American River California, (20.4 x 30.1").

This is an uncommon issuance as the maps have never been folded. Included with the maps is Ringgold's 44-page report.

References: Howes #R303.

Condition: B

Maps are on sturdy sheets which are generally clean and bright with some areas of light to moderate scattered foxing. Report is lightly toned with a few small edge tears and creases.