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Farnham, Thomas Jefferson; Sullivan, Joseph A. (Foreword) : Travels in California; with Map

Biobooks, Oakland, CA, 1948

One of 750 copies. Original publisher's light brown cloth binding with gilt lettering on front cover and spine. 6 1/4" x 9 1/4." 166 pages, complete. Two black-and-white folding plates and one black, white, and blue folding map in back, complete. Pages are virtually pristine and intact. Covers are virtually pristine and intact except for minuscule wear to edges and corners and fading to gilt lettering on front and spine. Binding is tight. A Fine copy. "California Centennial Edition." Back colophon: "First California Edition; 750 copies of 'Travels in California' have been printed at the Lederer, Street & Zeus Co., Inc., Berkeley, California; Designed by Arthur G. Henry; Title drawings and initial letters by Wm. Kay; Binding by Commercial Bindery." An autobiographical account by Thomas Jefferson Farnham (1804-1848), an American explorer and author. Foreword by Joseph A. Sullivan. Farnham took part in many historical events in the early days of the American West. He traveled the Oregon Trail and led a group of men, the Oregon Dragoons, to rendezvous with Jason Lee at his mission in Willamette Valley. After spending time in Oregon, Farnham set sail for Hawai'i. He later returned to the mainland and landed in Monterey, Alta California. There, he helped secure the release of American and British prisoners led by Isaac Graham (1800-1863), an American fur trader and mountain man, who had assisted Juan Alvarado and Jose Castro in their coup against the Mexican Governor of Northern California, Nicolas Gutierrez. However, once Alvarado became the new Mexican Governor, he and Castro turned on Graham and his men and accused them of conspiring against the Mexican government. Graham and his men were subsequently arrested in 1840 and sent to San Blas and then Tepic, Mexico for trial and imprisonment. The prisoners were subject to torture and abuse including being housed in unsanitary environments and deprived of food and water to the point of starvation. Sadly, some of the prisoners died from the ordeal. The remaining prisoners were eventually released about one year later. This entire series of events became known as the Graham Affair. In this book, Farnham begins his narrative in Oregon. He then describes his travels to Hawai'i via ship and the time he spent there. Farnham relays an account by one of the wives of Kamehameha I who describes Captain Cook and his betrayal of the Hawai'ian people, King Kamehameha (III?), and George Vancouver. Farnham also describesthe evangelical movement in Hawai'i. Much of Farnham's book is about Alta California and the Graham Affair. He writes about the Graham Affair from his point of view and retells the firsthand accounts of some of the prisoners on their harrowing journey from Alta California to Tepic. Farnham discusses many other subjects relating to California history such as the missions, presidios, local scenery, and natural resources.. Book. Book Condition: Fine. Binding: Hardcover

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