Lot of rare California books showing Gold Rush life up for auction

An image from the portfolio of photographs of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. The lot has 55 silver prints on paper.

Estimate: $1,000 - 1,500 An image from the portfolio of photographs of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. The lot has 55 silver prints on paper.

Estimate: $1,000 - 1,500 Photo: Courtesy Swann Auction Galleries Photo: Courtesy Swann Auction Galleries Image 1 of / 63 Caption Close Lot of rare California books showing Gold Rush life up for auction 1 / 63 Back to Gallery

Collectors and admirers of early California history will be thrilled to see a lot of rare books — most from before the turn of the century — up for auction.

The books cover topics from Gold Rush life to scenic shots of Yosemite before all those tour buses descended. Twenty-five of the lots up for auction by Swann Auction Galleries are from the estate of California adventurer Timothy Treacy.

"He gathered most of the 'Zamorano 80,' a 1945 list of the most important early books on California," Swann Galleries communications assistant Ferry Foster said. "Materials from his collection have already appeared in two sales this season, and more will come in the spring."

One of the most interesting lots is a first edition copy of Charles F. McGlashan's 'History of the Donner Party: A Tragedy of the Sierras.' The 1879 book was written by an editor of the Truckee Republican and was sent to 26 survivors of the Donner Party for edits and feedback. It's expected to sell for between $1,500-$2,500.

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Another lot that may fascinate local readers is the 1862 book 'Views of California.' It includes 24 lithographs of today's Calaveras Big Trees State Park, including some that show the US Army's herd of camels. The United States Camel Corps was a short-lived military experiment to see if camels could become the army's preferred pack animal. Camels were stationed in California, but the experiment ended shortly after the Civil War.

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Readers interested in the full lot of Printed & Manuscript Americana can visit the Swann Auction Galleries site.