J. M. Hutchings (1820–1902)

Original decorative green cloth, beveled edges, stamped gilt lettering & black forest background illustration, 152 illustrations including wood engravings, three maps, one folding. Slightly bumped corners and lightly rubbed spine edges, tight, clean, no markings. First print with 5 at bottom p.65, “Illustrations” list lacking The Sierras from Glacier Point (shown p.471), frontispiece phototype depicting no one seated behind the horse, cabin without a lean-to & other points per Currey/Kruska, and Farquhar.

According to Farquhar, In the heart of the Sierras was Hutchings' crown publishing achievement, "contains a great deal more than the account of Hutchings personal experiences; it covers more fully than any other work of the its day every aspect of Yosemite Valley and the Big Trees … illustrations are the finest that could be procured at the time."

James Mason Hutchings was born February 10, 1820 in England. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1848, then on to California in 1849 for the Gold Rush. He became wealthy as a miner, lost it in a bank failure, then became wealthy from publishing. In 1855 he led the first tourist party into Yosemite and became one of the first settlers in Yosemite Valley. One reference is given to John Muir, Hutchings refers to Muir as a ‘good practical sawyer’, p. 129. Hutchings lived and wrote extensively about Yosemite Valley for nearly two decades.

Cowan (I), p. 117; (II), p. 299; Currey & Kruska 175; Farquhar 18; Rocq 5206; HBS 51335, Reese, Best of the West 174… (mehr)