Item #8054 Message from the President of the United States to the Two Houses of Congress, at the Commencement of the Second Session of the Thirtieth Congress. James K. Polk, House of Representatives, California, Gold Rush.
Message from the President of the United States to the Two Houses of Congress, at the Commencement of the Second Session of the Thirtieth Congress
Message from the President of the United States to the Two Houses of Congress, at the Commencement of the Second Session of the Thirtieth Congress

Message from the President of the United States to the Two Houses of Congress, at the Commencement of the Second Session of the Thirtieth Congress

Washington DC: Wendell and Van Benthuysen, 1848. Ex. Doc. No. 1. Thirtieth Congress - Second Session. 1275pp. Octavo [23.5 cm] 3/4 leather over brown boards with the title gilt stamped on the backstrip. Very good. Title page laid in. Contemporary inscription on the front free endsheet. Minor sporadic foxing. This copy lacks the large hand-colored map of the U.S., reflecting the various portions added following the Mexican War.

Four fold-out maps:
'Upper Mines/Lower Mines or Mormon Diggings'
'Positions of the Upper and Lower Gold Mines on the South Fork of the American River, California. July 20th, 1848.'
'Santa Cruz de Rosales'
'Harbor of Guaymas'


15 Fold-out building plans for Naval installations:
[Boston]
'Portsmouth, N.H. Timber Shed'
'Portsmouth, N.H. Commander's House'
'Boston Cordage Store and Sail Loft'
'Philadelphia House for Officers'
'Philadelphia West End Smithery'
'Norfolk Stables'
'Boston Coal Houses, Blacksmith's Shop, and Rope Walk'
'Memphis Gateway, Guard and Master House'
'New York Double Tenement for Officers Dwellings'
'Portsmouth N.H. Naval Magazine'
'Pensacola 1st Class House/2nd Class House'
'Portsmouth, N.H. Engine House'
'Portsmouth, N.H. House for Heating Pitch'
'Philadelphia Timber Shed and Mould Loft'. Item #8054

This message from President Polk includes the official announcement of the discovery of gold in California, this announcement is the earliest official account of the discovery of Gold by Marshall in California, setting off the gold rush to the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California. This work also contains Colonel R.B. Mason's celebrated report of his visit to 'the newly discovered gold 'placer' in the valley of the Sacramento. Kurutz 105. Howes P446. Cowan p.153. Wheat Books 30.

Price: $675.00