Sketches Of The Sixties. Being Forgotten Material Now Collected For The First Time From The Californian 1864-67

BRET AND MARK TWAIN HARTE

Publication: John Howell, 1927, San Francisco

First edition. 8vo. Nicely bound by Bennett's of New York in full grained morocco with gilt rules, raised bands, all edges gilt, and title gilt on backstrip. Pictorial endpapers and pastedowns, xxi [3], 228 pp., introduction, preface, illustrated, frontispiece, bibliography. A nice collection of articles from the late Gold Rush era by the revered American authors Bret Harte and Mark Twain. Bound in the near center of the text block is the 1870 first edition of Harte's 'Heathen Chinee,' containing nine illustration by Joseph Hull. ‘Heathen Chinee’ is a satirical poem of racial prejudice in northern California. Much to Harte’s dismay, the poem was embraced by the American public as a mockery of Chinese immigrants, and it shaped anti-Chinese sentiment more than any other work at the time. Bret Harte (1836-1902) was a celebrated author and poet, who is best remembered for his accounts of pioneering life in California. Born in Albany, New York, he moved to California in 1854, later working there in several capacities, including miner, teacher, messenger, and journalist. Former owner's neat bookplate on verso of front free fly leaf, his inked name and date on the next page, spine panel and front corners lightly rubbed, as are the top edges of front and rear covers, else a near fine copy.

Inventory Number: 51760