The Adventures of James Collier: First Collector of the Port of San Francisco

Chicago: Black Cat Press, 1937 Book. Very fine. Hardcover. 1st Edition. First edition. One of 250 copies printed and published by the Black Cat Press. 61pp. Chapter notes. Original silver-stamped blue cloth, printed paper label on front cover. A bit of rubbing to spine ends and edges, else a fine copy. Collier (1789-1873) was appointed by President Taylor as Collector of the port of San Francisco just after the Mexican War. He and his party were among the 1849 westward-bound emigrants who came into the gold fields via the southern route - across the Colorado River westward over the Colorado Desert. H.M.T. Powell, in his diary, indicates that Collier followed the mountain route out from the Carrizo Corridor, his trail leading up through a canyon, over the mountains, finally bringing him to San Diego. Well researched with extensive chapter notes. Quite scarce. [Edwards: p. 87; Rader: 1430; Rocq: 9400]..