Early, Important California Gold Rush Maps

"[Lot of 2] Topographical Sketch of the Gold & Quicksilver District of California. July 25th 1848 [and] Upper Mines Nos 1 & 8 [on sheet with] Lower Mines or Mormon Diggings. No. 3", U.S. Government

A. Topographical Sketch of the Gold & Quicksilver District of California. July 25th 1848, by E.O.C. Ord, (15.3 x 21.4"). This is considered one of the most important maps of 1848. It accompanied the first official report of the gold discoveries and was the first map to reflect actual conditions at the mines, thus being of paramount importance to the California Gold Rush. It shows in detail the area south of San Francisco Bay (the Quicksilver area), across the Sacramento Valley and San Joaquin Plains and east to Lake Tahoe (here called Mountain Lake). Notes indicate where gold was to be found throughout the region. An important Gold Rush map that was lithographed by P.S. Duval of Philadelphia. References: Wheat (Gold) #54; Wheat (TMW) #565, Schwartz & Ehrenberg p. 278-9.

B. Upper Mines Nos 1 & 8 [on sheet with] Lower Mines or Mormon Diggings. No. 3 (6.4 x 8.9"). These small maps were issued in Colonel Mason's famous report that spawned the great California Gold Rush. The top half shows the Upper Mines along the South Fork of the American River and notes where gold first found by James W. Marshall. The bottom map depicts numerous tents surrounding a store with a large area of the river bar marked gold. Reference: Wheat (Gold) #52.

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Condition: B

Issued folding with scattered foxing and minor staining. The first, larger map has a 6" archivally repaired edge tear at left, and the second map has two small edge tears at left that just enter the image and have also been archivally repaired on verso.