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CALIFORNIA – The Californian. Monterey & San Francisco: Aug. 29, 1846 - Sept. 15, 1847.
An extensive run of the first California newspaper; likely the most complete set to appear on the market since the Streeter sale in 1968, comprising twenty-one issues of the first volume and six numbers of the second volume: The California State Library's set is less complete – as is every other known run of the newspaper save for a complete set handled by Howell and a run of thirty-eight numbers sold at the Streeter sale (for $17,500 in 1968). A set belonging to the California Pioneers was destroyed by fire.
The Californian served as a vital source of news for the American forces during their occupation of California in the Mexican War. The paper continued in its important role after the war with its support of the new government, printing the texts of the various official proclamations, and strongly advocating a territorial relationship with the United States as a first step toward annexation. The issues included here include Part I of a review, with extracts, of Melville's Typee (Vol. I, No. 21), a reprinting of the prospectus for the paper establishing editorial policy (Vol. I, No. 30), and an account of the rescue of the Donner party survivors (Vol. I, No. 32), among many other items of great historical interest.
The Californian was edited by Walter Colton, author of Deck and Port (1850) and Three Years in California (1850), and Robert Semple, a frontier doctor from Kentucky. The first issue appeared on Aug. 15, 1846, and the newspaper continued to be published weekly in Monterey, in English and Spanish on the Zamorano Press, the first printing press in California. Paper was so scarce that a few issues had to be printed on cigar wrapping papers. Much of the news consists of firsthand accounts of local happenings. When there was a scarcity of news items, Colton and Semple filled with poetry and fiction, or culled from newspapers received in exchange. The paper was printed every Saturday until No. 36 (24 April 1847), when Colton turned the business over to Semple due to ill health. Number 37, here present, notes the change, and that number and the next issue, the last published in Monterey, appeared on Thursday rather than Saturday. Semple moved the paper almost immediately to San Francisco, where he began publication in a larger folio format on May 22, 1847. The paper bore the masthead, The Californian, until No. 15, Aug. 28, here present, when "The" was dropped. B.R. Buckelew took over as publisher on July 17, Robert Gordon on Oct. 27, and Buckelew again on Jan. 26, 1848. Gahey, pp.33-48; Graff 550; Greenwood 99; Kemble (1962), pp.52-65; Streeter sale IV:2509; Wagner, California Imprints 1.
Together twenty-seven numbers, each 4 pages. First volume in quarto format, folded sheets, unbound as issued. Second volume in folio, as issued (No. 3 with large hole through both leaves affecting letters; No. 5 silked and separated at fold; No. 15 silked; No. 28 with small hole; No. 29 silked and separated at fold, with small hole and corner missing; four numbers of the second volume have small sections missing, either clipped or torn out). In two red half morocco and cloth boxes.
An extensive run of the first California newspaper; likely the most complete set to appear on the market since the Streeter sale in 1968, comprising twenty-one issues of the first volume and six numbers of the second volume: The California State Library's set is less complete – as is every other known run of the newspaper save for a complete set handled by Howell and a run of thirty-eight numbers sold at the Streeter sale (for $17,500 in 1968). A set belonging to the California Pioneers was destroyed by fire.
The Californian served as a vital source of news for the American forces during their occupation of California in the Mexican War. The paper continued in its important role after the war with its support of the new government, printing the texts of the various official proclamations, and strongly advocating a territorial relationship with the United States as a first step toward annexation. The issues included here include Part I of a review, with extracts, of Melville's Typee (Vol. I, No. 21), a reprinting of the prospectus for the paper establishing editorial policy (Vol. I, No. 30), and an account of the rescue of the Donner party survivors (Vol. I, No. 32), among many other items of great historical interest.
The Californian was edited by Walter Colton, author of Deck and Port (1850) and Three Years in California (1850), and Robert Semple, a frontier doctor from Kentucky. The first issue appeared on Aug. 15, 1846, and the newspaper continued to be published weekly in Monterey, in English and Spanish on the Zamorano Press, the first printing press in California. Paper was so scarce that a few issues had to be printed on cigar wrapping papers. Much of the news consists of firsthand accounts of local happenings. When there was a scarcity of news items, Colton and Semple filled with poetry and fiction, or culled from newspapers received in exchange. The paper was printed every Saturday until No. 36 (24 April 1847), when Colton turned the business over to Semple due to ill health. Number 37, here present, notes the change, and that number and the next issue, the last published in Monterey, appeared on Thursday rather than Saturday. Semple moved the paper almost immediately to San Francisco, where he began publication in a larger folio format on May 22, 1847. The paper bore the masthead, The Californian, until No. 15, Aug. 28, here present, when "The" was dropped. B.R. Buckelew took over as publisher on July 17, Robert Gordon on Oct. 27, and Buckelew again on Jan. 26, 1848. Gahey, pp.33-48; Graff 550; Greenwood 99; Kemble (1962), pp.52-65; Streeter sale IV:2509; Wagner, California Imprints 1.
Together twenty-seven numbers, each 4 pages. First volume in quarto format, folded sheets, unbound as issued. Second volume in folio, as issued (No. 3 with large hole through both leaves affecting letters; No. 5 silked and separated at fold; No. 15 silked; No. 28 with small hole; No. 29 silked and separated at fold, with small hole and corner missing; four numbers of the second volume have small sections missing, either clipped or torn out). In two red half morocco and cloth boxes.