HOW MANY MILES FROM ST. JO?: THE LOG OF STERLING R.F. CLARK A FORTY-NINER, WITH COMMENTS BY ELLA STERLING MIGHELS TOGETHER WITH A BRIEF AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PHELAN, 1819 - 1892 PIONEER MERCHANT

Clark, Sterling R.F.

Published by Privately Printed (Taylor and Taylor, San Francisco), San Francisco, CA, 1929

About this Item

Octavo, paper-covered boards (8 in. x 5 1/4 in.) in marble style with a fabulous, multi-colored inset graphic (3 in. x 2 in.) of a goldseeker panning for gold -- as represented by the rays of the golden sun -- and the bearded pioneer and his spouse hailing the heavens in jubilation and gratitude. Some wear to very extremities of book, particularly at corners, all being somewhat rubbed, one of which is nudged, the other bumped. Brick red spine. Foredge deckled. Presentation tag ("With the compliments of James D. Phelan / Villa Montalvo / Saratoga, Santa Clara County, California / Christmas, 1929") tipped in at front. In privately printing this log and presenting it to friends for Christmas (1929) Phelan writes: "In contemplating the fate of Clark, I thought of my own father, who inb 1839 barely survived the crossing of the Isthmus of Panama, near where Clark fell; hence I have added his brief autobiography." Frontispiece photograph of Sterling Clark and his wife, and five other photographic illustrations Privately-Printed Reproduction of the log of Sterling B.F. Clark (b. 1825), a native of Rutland, Vermont who was determined not to follow in the footsteps of the other men in his family, suffering a premature death in the stone sheds -- the marble quarries which constituted one of Vermont's chief industries, Clark effectively escaped that fate, working in turn as a surveyor, printer, pressman and then editor in Pennsylvania until the discovery of gold in California was announced and he could not resist the call to "Go West! This". is his log, reproduced verbatim, retaining its spelling of proper names, changes having been made only as regfards capitalization and punctuation." (from Foreword).

Seller Inventory # 88059

Bibliographic Details

• Title: HOW MANY MILES FROM ST. JO?: THE LOG OF STERLING R.F. CLARK A FORTY-NINER, WITH COMMENTS BY ELLA STERLING MIGHELS TOGETHER WITH A BRIEF AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JAMES PHELAN, 1819 - 1892 PIONEER MERCHANT
• Publisher: Privately Printed (Taylor and Taylor, San Francisco), San Francisco, CA
• Publication Date: 1929
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Near Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Americana, Western