California as it is & as it may be
Subtitle: or, A guide to the gold region
By: by F.P. Wierzbicki, M.D.; with an introduction by George D. Lyman; drawings by Valenti Angelo.
Contributors: Lyman, George D. 1882-1949.
Series: Rare Americana series ;; no. 8; Rare Americana series (Grabhorn Press) ;; no. 8.
Publisher: The Grabhorn press
Published: 1933
Place of publication: San Francisco
Language: eng
Number of pages: 100
Subjects: Ethnic groups -- California.; Urbanization -- California.; Real estate development -- California.; Law and politics -- California.; Agriculture -- California.; California -- Description and travel.; California -- Gold discoveries.
Description: Felix Paul Wierzbicki (1815-1860) left his native Poland after participating in the doomed revolution of 1830. He made his way to America where he received a medical degree and practiced in Providence, Rhode Island. When the Mexican War broke out, Wierzbicki enlisted in the Army and was sent to California. Wierzbicki left the Army shortly after reaching the West and practiced medicine until the discovery of gold drew him to prospecting on Mokelumne Hill. In 1849, he returned to San Francisco, where he spent the rest of his life. California as it is (1849) was the first English-language book printed in California. It is a valuable guide to California for prospective settlers that includes a survey of agriculture, hints on gold mining, a guide to San Francisco, and a chapter on California's Hispanic residents and Native American tribes.
Notes: No known restrictions on publication. No copyright renewal found.
"Bibliography for the study of the life of F.P. Wierzbicki, M.D., compiled by George D. Lyman": p. [102]-[104]
Two editions published in 1849, the prefaces dated "Sept. 30, 1849" and "December 30, 1849" respectively. The present edition follows the text of the second edition.
Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.