Autobiography Of Isaac Jones Wistar 1827-1905

ISAAC JONES WISTAR

Publication: The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, 1914, Philadelphia

First Edition. Two Volumes. #35 of 250 Copies. This copy specifically Presented to Dr. Charles B. Penrose, with Presentation Label on front endpaper. Quarto. Buckram with Gilt-stamped Morocco Labels on Spine, as issued. ix, 341pp. and 191pp. Frontispiece in each volume, plus 5 Plates. Large Folding Map at rear of Volume I. The rare first issue; few copies of which were presented to personal friends of long standing, with a printed request "to regard its contents for the present as confidential. The remaining copies were placed in a sealed vault and will be withheld from circulation for 50 years." Isaac Wistar was an attorney, served in the Civil War, was a railroad executive and founded the Wistar Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, but is perhaps best known for his role in the development of California and the Far West. Wistar's important overland journal is in day-to-day form, and presents minute and interesting details, not found in most overland journals. His experiences were wide-spread and noteworthy everywhere he traveled: Trapping and trading in hostile Indian country, the California gold fields, San Francisco, the Northwest Coast, the Thompson and Frazer River areas, Puget Sound, Fort Hall, the Black Hills, and more. "Largely devoted to the opening and development of the far West from 1849-1860, in which Wistar played a conspicuous part before achieving fame and fortune in Pennsylvania."--HOWES W598. His experiences during the Civil War are covered. In his later life Wistar was a successful lawyer and a Vice President of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He founded the Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology at the University of Pennsylvania in 1892. Some very slight rubbing to edges, else a fine, tight copy, protected in a custom slipcase with gilt-stamped leather label on spine. Map in fine condition. As noted above, this copy was presented to Dr. Charles B. Penrose, with the Presentation Label neatly affixed to front endpaper in each volume. Bookplate of Penrose's son, Boies Penrose II, is neatly affixed to front free-endpaper in each volume. Small printed notice of this work's confidentiality is neatly tipped-in in front of each volume, as issued. Penrose has signed the upper fore-corner of the title page in each volume. Charles Bingham Penrose, surgeon and a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, suffering from Tuberculosis, went west to Wyoming in 1891 for his health. He became deeply involved in the infamous Johnson County War. Penrose "was the surgeon who accompanied the invading cattlemen and thus writes with authority."--Ramon Adams. He was arrested and only his friendship with Wyoming's governor saved him from being lynched. Penrose authored The Rustler Business, much of which was written in 1939, but was printed in 1959.

Inventory Number: 51982