Volume I: A CAMPING TRIP WITHOUT A CAR 1927 Inscribed and signed by Frances G. Lauderback to her friend Marion Bettison Volume II: A SECOND CAMPING TRIP WITHOUT A CAR 1928 Original 1/1 Artist Books

1st Edition. Two unique Travel Diaries from Frances G. Lauderback from the years 1927 and 1928. VOLUME I: A CAMPING TRIP WITHOUT A CAR 1927. Inscribed and signed by Frances G. Lauderback to her friend Marion Bettison. One of a kind only artist book - 6" x 8" wide unpaginated. 60 pages plus cover. Hand sewn and tied with black twine and 5 punched holes. Cover is in black cover stock. 8 Original illustrations of birds and landscapes as well as 37 photographs glued inside along with her captivating entries, typed in red, depicting her travels on thick yellow paper. Near Fine condition with a some slight tears and edgewear on the covers. Also included in this travel journal were 3 vintage GEORGE WASHINGTON uncirculated 2 cent postage stamps. ".As I did not want to carry much money, I arranged to have a P.O. Box and money orders sent to me at different places. This worked well with but one mishap on reaching a small town I went to the post office confident of finding the letter awaiting me as if it was a few days later than I expected to be there having taken an extra side trip which also left me with less money than anticipated. To my horror there was nothing at all for me the letter had been there five days and been returned that morning. Upon taking stock I found my total resource in worth were $1.25 and three postage stamps in addition I learned that for the first time the six articles had failed to follow me having been accidentally put off at a station 40 miles back and only one train a day. As there was neither tent nor sleeping bag I took my hand baggage to a little hotel then went to the Telegraph office fortunately there was a pleasant elderly man to whom I recounted the difficulty, wrote a message to the bank nearly 400 miles away and then added hesitantly after paying a dollar at the hotel I have only $0.25 left for supper and breakfast may I defer payment for the wire until the money comes. I'm sure it will I ended hopefully. He smiled and agreed after profound consideration I expensed the quarter for peanuts and peach with a cantaloupe held over for breakfast, with plenty of watercress from a nearby stream I enjoyed a good supper and slept peacefully with the three postage stamps and faith. The next day the money and six articles arrived, and life was serene once more. Nobody would take the postage stamps, so venerable Washington guarded my slumber". VOLUME II: A SECOND CAMPING TRIP WITHOUT A CAR 1928 Dedicated by Frances G. Lauderback to her friend Marion Bettison One of a kind artist book - 8" x 6" wide unpaginated. 82 pages plus cover. Hand sewn and tied with blue twine and 3 punched holes. Cover is in black cover stock. 14 Original illustrations as well as 39 photographs glued inside along with her captivating entries, typed in red, depicting her travels on thick yellow paper with the photos glued on brown stock. Near Fine condition with a some edgewear on the cover Her expedition commenced in San Francisco, and she travelled to Klamath Falls, Redwood Highway, Yosemite and Crater Lake Oregon to name but a few locations. Frances G. Lauderbach was a true trailblazer-an explorer with an unshakable spirit of adventure. At a time when women were often expected to remain within the confines of convention, she defied the norm, embarking on solo journeys spanning over 400 miles across California. She traveled not as a passive observer, but as an active participant in the wild, camping under open skies, embracing solitude, and drawing endless inspiration from the landscapes around her. With a keen sense of practicality and independence, she sent her bags ahead by train or automobile, allowing herself the freedom to travel unencumbered. This was more than just a journey-it was an act of discovery, a testament to her deep connection to nature and her desire to experience it on her own terms. Beyond her love for exploration, she was also an avid nature photographer, capturing the beauty of her surroundings through the lens. B.…