Finding aid for the California Pictorial Lettersheet Collection
1849-1875
SFP 107
Finding aid written by Christina Moretta
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
2017
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Title: California Pictorial Lettersheet Collection
Date (inclusive): 1849-1875
Identifier/Call Number: SFP 107
Physical Description:
1 box
(.5 Linear feet)
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
Abstract: Collection contains 48 pictorial lettersheets from 1849 to 1875. Pictorial lettersheets are writing paper illustrated with
lithographs or wood engravings depicting San Francisco and California mining themes and are a visual account of the Gold Rush.
Topics and scenes include San Francisco views, fires and earthquakes, public executions, activities of the Committees of Vigilance,
and mining and camp life. Places featured include San Francisco, Sacramento, Placerville, Sonora, and Grass Valley.
Physical Location: The collection is stored onsite.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in
English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center's Photo Desk hours.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to publish from photographs must be submitted in writing to the Photo Curator. Permission for
publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], California Pictorial Lettersheet Collection (SFP 107), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco
Public Library.
Provenance
This artificial collection of pictorial lettersheets was assembled through gifts and purchases by the San Francisco History
Center.
Scope and Content
Collection contains 48 pictorial lettersheets from 1849 to 1875. Pictorial lettersheets are writing paper illustrated with
lithographs or wood engravings depicting San Francisco and California mining themes and are a visual account of the Gold Rush.
Topics and scenes include San Francisco views, fires and earthquakes, public executions, activities of the Committees of Vigilance,
and mining and camp life. A few satirize the California experience and the miner’s experiences. Places featured include San
Francisco, Sacramento, Placerville, Sonora, and Grass Valley. The lettersheets in the collection were created by numerous
California artists, engravers, lithographers, and publishers, notably: Britton and Rey (San Francisco); Quirot and Co., Justh
and Co., and Justh, Quirot and Co. (San Francisco); James M. Hutchings and Hutchings and Rosenfield (San Francisco); Cooke
and LeCount (San Francisco); Charles P. Kimball and the Noisy Carrier's Publishing Hall (San Francisco).
Arrangement
Lettersheets are arranged alphabetically by title of sheet.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gold mines and mining -- California.
California--Gold discoveries--Pictorial works.
California--Pictorial works.
Executions and executioners--California--Pictorial works.
Fires--California--San Francisco--Pictorial works.
Gold miners--California--Pictorial works.
Lithography--California.
Pictorial lettersheets.
Vigilance committees--California--San Francisco--Pictorial works.
The celebration in San Francisco, in commemoration of the successful laying of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable, Monday September
27th, 1858.
Scope and Contents
Various illustrations of the parade, with descriptive text, surrounded by seals of the thirty states.
General
Sterett and Butler, Printers, Engravers, and Publishers, 145 Clay Street, San Francisco.
"Celebration of Washington's Birth Day" San Francisco Feby. 23d. 1852.
circa 1852
Scope and Contents
Depicts Washington's Birthday celebration in Portsmouth Square, with buildings in the background, including "El Dorado," "The
Union," and City Hall.
General
Lith. and Pub. by Pollard and Britton.
City of San Francisco
circa 1850
Scope and Contents
High view of San Francisco from above Nob Hill, looking toward Yerba Buena Island with ships in the bay in the background.
Downieville; Sierra County, Cal.
1852
Scope and Contents
Sketched by Mrs. M.N. Horton. Lith. of Cooke and LeCount S. Francisco. Published by Cooke and LeCount, Stationers Warehouse.
Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1852. By Cooke and LeCount in the Clerks Office in the Northern District
of California.
Earthquake in San Francisco, Cal. Oct. 21, 1868
circa 1869
General
D. Appleton and Co., San Francisco.
Execution of Casey & Cora, by the San Francisco Vigilance Committee May 22d. 1856.
circa 1856
General
Pub. by Britton and Rey.
Scope and Contents
Taken from cor. Davis and Commercial.
A fight with a grizly [sic].
General
Lith. and Pub. by Britton and Rey S. Franco.
Fire in San Francisco. In the night from the 3d.-4th May, 1851. Loss $20,000,000.
circa 1851
Scope and Contents
View from Nob Hill of conflagration on the waterfront, south of Telegraph Hill.
General
Lith. Justh and Co. Broadway between Dupont and Stockton Sts.
The first trial & execution in S. Francisco on the night of 10th. of June at 2 o'clock.
circa 1851
Scope and Contents
Depicts the hanging of John Jenkins, a "Sydney man," from the rafters of the San Francisco Custom House in the Plaza. A sign
on the Custom House reads "Burgoyne."
General
Del. after the nature by W.C.K. Pub. and Lith. Justh Quirot and Co. Corr Calif. and Mont. Sts. S.F.
Flume [upper]. Elevating water wheel [lower].
circa 1853
General
Lith. and published by Britton and Rey. San Francisco Cal.
Fort Vigilant Rooms of the Committee Sacramento St. betn Davis & Front [upper]. Mass meeting endorsing the acts of the Vigilance
Committe [sic] June 14th [lower].
circa 1856
General
Noisy Carier's [sic] Book and Stationery Co. Lith. Britton and Rey.
Scope and Contents
Includes two illustrations. Upper illustration shows fort in the foreground, with signs for Brown and Crowel, Mills and Valentine,
and Stoves hanging from storefronts in the background. In the distance are ships on the wharf.
The Grand Plaza, San Francisco.
1850
Scope and Contents
View of plaza, with buildings in the background identified by the following signs: B. F. Butler Lithographer; Atwill and Co.;
Music Store; Post Office; Alta California; El Dorado; Union Hotel; Empire; Stage Office.
Handwritten letter on backside to Sarah and Lucy from father.
General
Atwill and Co., Publishers, San Francisco. B. F. Butler's Lith, San Francisco.
Grass Valley, Nevada County California.
Scope and Contents
Shows the town of Grass Valley, a lumber mill, and a farm, with scattered people, at work and leisure.
General
R.E. Ogilby del. Lith. Britton and Rey San Francisco.
Honest voters trying to elect their officers in front of the house [upper]. Ballot box stuffers, electing their men behind
the house [lower].
circa 1855
General
Noisy Carriers 64 and 66 Long Wharf.
Hutchings' Panoramic Scenes Crossing the Plains.
circa 1853
Scope and Contents
Thirteen vignettes depicting the overland journey to California.
General
Published by J. M. Hutchings, Placerville. Views drawn from nature in 1853 by George H. Baker.
Hutching's panoramic scenes.--Northern California.
1855
Scope and Contents
Six vignettes depicting the Northern California towns of Shasta, Jacksonville, Yreka, Mount Shasta, Scott's Bar, and Weaverville.
Handwritten letter to brother and sister from beloved brother dated February 19, 1856 from Scotts Bar. Letter describes lumber
work, pay and temperance lifestyle.
General
Published by A. Roman, Bookseller, Shasta and Yreka. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by James M. Hutchings,
in the Clerk's Office of the U. S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
James King of William--The patriot martyr of California, editor of the San Francisco Evening Bulletin, who was murderously
assassinated by James P. Casey, May 14th, 1856.
1856
Scope and Contents
Two portraits of James King of William, one depicting the living man, and the other showing the entrance and exit of the fatal
bullet on the corpse.
General
Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1856, by James M. Hutchings, in the Clerk's Office of the U. S. District
Court, for the Northern District of California.
Mounted on board.
Joe Bowers. A very pathetic ballad, as sung by Mr. Johnson at the Melodeon, San Francisco.
General
Sold by J.W. Sullivan, News Agent, San Francisco.
The jolly old miner.
Scope and Contents
Humorous illustration of a drunk miner riding backwards on his horse, with two laughing miners at his left, and text below.
General
Lith. and Pub. by Britton and Rey.
Life among the miners. No. 2.
Scope and Contents
Thirteen vignettes.
General
Published by Hutchings and Rosenfield, 146 Montgomery Street, San Francisco. Printed by S. H. Wade, Era Building, 151 Clay
Street.
Mammoth Grove Hotel. Sperry and De Briges, Proprietors.
1875
General
Calaveras Co., Cal.
Scope and Contents
Includes description of the Mammoth and South Park Groves.
Map of the mining region of California. 1855.
circa 1855
General
Lithogd. and publd. by Britton and Rey San Francisco.
Miners at work with long toms.
Scope and Contents
Shows miners at work with long toms, beneath which are printed romantic illustrations of a miner with a shovel, ax, and pan,
and a reclining Indian chief. The entire lettersheet is enclosed in a border decorated with leafy boughs, fauna, and spears.
General
Copied from daguerreotyp sketch by Justh and Quirot Lithographers.
Miner's life--Illustrated.
General
Entered according to Act of Congress, by Barber and Baker, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Northern District
of California. Published by Barber and Baker, corner of Third and J Street, Sacramento.
Scope and Contents
Thirteen vignettes depicting the miner's life, surrounding printed text of two miner's songs, "The One Sung at Home" and "The
One He Sings Here."
Mounted on board.
Miner's Ten Commandments
1853
General
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by James M. Hutchings, in the Clerk's Office of the U. S. District
Court for the Northern District of California. Orders, pre paid, addressed "Box H, Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal"
Scope and Contents
Eleven vignettes.
The miner's ten commandments. A new verse-ion, including a preamble, by-laws and decree. By Cadez Orion.
General
Lith. Britton and Rey.
Scope and Contents
Three vignettes, including an illustration of a miner striding an elephant with two stone tablets, beneath which the text
of the miner's ten commandments is printed.
The mining business in four pictures.
General
Lith and Published by Britton and Rey, corner of Montgomery and Commercial Sts. S. F.
Panorama of San Francisco.
General
Sold by Charles Magnus, 12 Frankfort Street, New-York.
Past & Present of California.
Scope and Contents
Thirteen overland and oversea, mining, and San Francisco scenes, including illustrations of the ships Golden Gate and San
Francisco.
General
Lith. and Pub. by Britton and Rey S. Francisco.
Placerville.
General
Lith. and Published by Quirot and Co. corner Montgomery and California Sts S. Francisco.
River mining.
General
Anthony and Baker Sc. Published at the Wide West Office, 184 Clay Street, San Francisco.
St. Mary's Church. San Francisco Cal.
General
Lithd. and Publd. by Britton and Rey. San Francisco.
San Francisco.
1852
Scope and Contents
Ten illustrations of San Francisco buildings and scenes: the Catholic C., Presidio, Mission, Grace C., Long Wharf, Mountain
Lake, Jenny Lind Theater, Yerba Buena, Montgomery Str., and a larger view of the city from Nob Hill to the harbor at the center.
General
Lith of Pollard and Britton. Pub. by Cooke and Le Count.
San Francisco
circa 1854
Scope and Contents
Panoramic view from Nob Hill looking east toward the bay. A couple stands in the foreground, the man pointing, with a seated
artist sketching and other figures.
General
Lith. of Britton and Rey Cor. Montgy. and Comml. Sts.
San Francisco--California.
Scope and Contents
Panoramic view of San Francisco from Nob Hill to the east over North Beach.
General
H. Payot. Taylor.
The San Francisco News Letter.
1856
Scope and Contents
A summary of events from the 20th of October to the 5th of November, 1856.
San Francisco Past and Present.
Scope and Contents
Sketch of view from Rincon Point in 1849 with vicinity of San Frncisco map.
Mounted on board with pencil sketch of Ship Capitol in a hurricane.
General
Taken from Rincon Point, by G. H. Baker, June 1, 1849.
San Francisco Prices Current and Shipping List. March 15, 1852. Per steamer California. Letter sheet edition.
1852
General
From Chas. Parsons.
Shipment of the prisoners. Charles P. Duane, Martin Gallagher, Billy Mulligan, Wm. Carr, Edward Bulger and Woolly Kearny,
sent from the country, by the "Vigilance Committee of San Francisco," at two o'clock, A.M., June 5, 1856.
General
T.C. Boyd. Published by the Noisy Carrier's Book and Stationary Co., 87 Battery Street, San Francisco.
Sloat's San Francisco Prices Current and Shipping List. San Francisco, Thursday, August 14, 1851. Vol. 2, no. 7. Per steamer
"California."
1851
Sonora from the North.
1853
General
Published by G. S. Wells, Sonora May 1853. G.H. Goddard del. Lith. Britton and Rey, San Francisco. Entered accourding to Act
of Congress in the year 1853 by G.S. Wells in the Clerk's Office of the district Court of Northern District of California.
Southern approach to Jamestown Tuolumne County Cal.
1853
General
G.H. Goddard del. Lith. Britton and Rey S. Francisco. Entered according to Act of Congress n the year 1853 by L. Jones in
the Clerk's Office of the district Court of the Northern district of California.
Sundry amusements in the mines.
Scope and Contents
Four vignettes depicting two miners cooking, washing, mending, and confronting a bear warming his paws in their tent.
General
Lith and published by Britton and Rey.
Surrender of the prisoners James P. Casey & Chas. Cora to the Vigilance Committee Sunday, May 18th. 1856. 2500 citizens under
arms, & a reserve of 2500, ready, at a moments notice.
circa 1856
Scope and Contents
From Cor. Dupont and Broadway.
General
Lithy. of Britton and Rey.
Tremendous excitement! Samuel Whittaker and Robert McKenzie rescued from the authorities, and hung by the Vigilance Committee,
on Sunday August 24th at 3 o'clock p.m. in the presence of fifteen thousand people.
circa 1851
Scope and Contents
Depicts a large crowd watching a double hanging from the rafters of a San Francisco building, with signs for Bullitt, Patrick
and Dow; Torrey and Blanchard; H.A. Cheever and Co.; and the Vigilance Committee Chambers.
General
Lith. and Publ. by Justh, Quirot and Co.
View of the fire in Sacramento City on the night of 2d. and 3rd. of November 1852, taken from the levee. Loss: ten millions
of dollars!!!
circa 1853
General
Lith. and Pub. by Quirot and Co. Corn. Montgomery and California Sts. S.F.
Scope and Contents
View of a violent conflagration on Front Street, with a throng of people and their belongings crowded on the levee.
View of the last great conflagration in San-Francisco on the 22d. of June 1851. Ten squares burned, loss $3,000,000. View
taken from the head of California Street during the progress of the fire.
circa 1851
General
Pub. and Lith. by Justh. Quirot and Co. California St. Corner Montgomery S.F.
Scope and Contents
View of a roaring conflagration, from Nob Hill, with Telegraph Hill and the bay in the background.
