Following the devastating impacts of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, it "was decided to arrange for an investigation of their effects on buildings and materials of construction." This 170-page investigation includes 4 separate expert reports by Richard Humphrey, G.K. Gilbert, John Sewell and Frank Soule. The reports are richly illustrated with 55 single-page plates following the text, a folding map, and a photographic bird's-eye view of the burned district. The folding Map of San Francisco Showing Burned District..., (13.4 x 10.5") highlights the area ravaged by fire in red overprinting (occupying more than 500 blocks in today's financial district) along with the water system, earthquake breaks, and the section of the city covered by brick buildings (which were particularly vulnerable). The photographic bird's-eye view, entitled Map of San Francisco and Vicinity Showing Relation of Burned District to the Entire City... (13.4 x 15.0") is particularly illuminating, where "like a field of ice in a tropical mid-day sun, millions of dollars worth of property disappeared in a day and a night." Gray paper wrappers.

References:

Condition: B+

Contents are very good. The folding map has a few spots of foxing and the view has a short archivally repaired edge tear at top. Single-page plates are clean and bright and the text has a hint of toning. Front wrapper has some staining and minor chips while the rear wrapper is detached.