Edward Vischer's The Mission Era: California Under Spain and Mexico and Reminiscences was completed in 1878 and bequeathed to Vischer's son Hubert upon the artist's death that same year. The collection contains 49 water-colored drawings primarily featuring California's twenty-one Franciscan missions and their environs. The collection also contains 4 photographic reproductions of drawings, an index to the missions, two title leaves, and the remaining covers of the original album box in which the drawings were presented.

Edward Vischer was born April 6, 1808, in Regensburg (Ratsdon), Bavaria. At the age of 19 Vischer went to Mexico, where he was employed by the enterprising trader Heinrich Virmond, whose Acapulco-based company was well established along the Pacific Coast from Alta California to South America. From Virmond Vischer acquired much practical knowledge of the commercial shipping activity along the Pacific Coast, and learned much about the various inhabitants and cultures of Alta California. In 1835, while on a business lay-over in Callao, Peru, Vischer lived with artist and fellow Bavarian Mauritius Rugendas, who would eventually gain international recognition for his pictorial documentation of points of interest in Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. During this time, Vischer and Rugendas entertained Charles Darwin, who had just completed a survey expedition in the Straits of Magellan."The aim and purpose of views selected from several hundred of our own sketches in every part of California, has been to represent as truthfully as lay within our power, the natural characteristics of this favored country."

49 water-colored drawings, various sizes; 4 albumen prints, various sizes; 2 title leaves; 1 index; all on 53 mounts, 24.7 x 34.3 cm. 51 digital objects

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish photographs must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Pictorial Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Restricted originals. Use viewing prints only: Shelved as BANC PIC 19xx.039--PIC. Use of originals only by permission of the Curator of Pictorial Collections, The Bancroft Library.