VINTAGE 1889 FIRST EDITION — PRE-1906 EARTHQUAKE SAN FRANCISCO HISTORYUp for sale is an incredibly scarce, highly collectible copy of "The City of San Francisco and a Glimpse of California," published in 1889 by the Enterprise Publishing Company. Institutional copies of this specific 1889 illustrated variant are exceptionally rare, making this a true prize for serious collectors of California history and West Coast ephemera.This book captures the height of the "Boom of the 80s" in California, printed long before the devastating 1906 Earthquake and Fire erased the physical city layout and many of the landmarks profiled inside.Key Item Details & Features:Stunning Illustrated Cover: Features the highly coveted lithograph cover artwork depicting a detailed bird’s-eye view map of San Francisco, a vintage sailing ship, and a lush California vineyard scene.Pristine Internal Plate: Includes the beautiful period engraving of "The Golden Gate" on page 3.Fascinating Primary Source Data: Packed with historical text on 19th-century trade, California agriculture, early Stanford University history ($3M endowment details), and 1880s real estate values (showing land in Napa, Los Angeles, and Santa Clara at $200–$450 an acre).
Condition Notes:Binding: Excellent condition for its age. Crucially, the illustrated cardboard wrapper remains securely attached to the internal text block (the spine is intact, not detached or split).Cover: The lithograph cover art is bright, clean, and highly presentable with excellent eye appeal. Minor edge wear consistent with a 135+ year old paper antiquity.
Interior: The pages and text block are clean, crisp, and tightly bound. No heavy age-spotting (foxing) or moisture damage