[Americana] Kneeland, Samuel, and John P. Soule. The Wonders of the Yosemite Valley, and of California

Boston: Alexander Moore, 1871. First edition. Tall 8vo. 71 pp., with half-title. Text within printed red border. Illustrated with a mounted albumen frontispiece and nine mounted albumen photographs, attributed to John P. Soule; each with tissue guard. Modern blue buckram with portions of publisher's gilt and black stamped cloth laid down on front and rear boards and on spine; all edges trimmed; foxing to text and albumen mounts; text leaves lightly toned. Cowan p. 333; Currey & Kruska 225; Farquhar 10a

First edition of this significant early guide to the Yosemite Valley, featuring fine albumen photographs of the region.

Samuel Kneeland was a professor of Zoology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, traveled across the continent on the newly opened transcontinental railroad, then returned east via Panama. "Kneeland took pains to get reliable information and present it with more than ordinary care. The photographic illustrations are excellent and include some unusual views" (Farquhar).

The source of the photographs in this work is the subject of some conjecture. Though John Soule is credited with the photographs on the title, he apparently never visited Yosemite. It is believed that he purchased negatives from Yosemite photographer Martin Mason Hazeltine, although some in the past have suggested Eadweard Muybridge as an alternative attribution.

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

[Americana] Kneeland, Samuel, and John P. Soule. The Wonders of the Yosemite Valley, and of California