Little Rock: S.H. Nowlin & Co., 1882. 8pp. Folio newspaper. Previously folded; short separations along fold line; light wear at edges. Light tanning. Unopened. An unrecorded 1882 Arkansas land and railway promotional intended to advertise the routes and lands of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad. Disguised as..... More

Pittsburgh: 1836-1841. [48]pp. Large folio. Contemporary half reverse-calf and blue paper boards. Wear to corners and spine ends, boards soiled. Leaves reinforced at gutter margin with tape, some light soiling. In a clear and legible hand. This ledger records the register and pay information for approximately thirty-five men who worked..... More

[Boston: 1900]. [4]pp., on a bifolium. Previously folded; light wear. Rare illustrated prospectus for the potentially fraudulent Bernalillo Oil Company, based in Boston and San Diego at the turn of the 20th century. The text promises astounding returns, stating that, "Enormous fortunes -- greater by far than those made by..... More

[Petaluma]: 1873-1876. 31 leaves. Large folio. Original maroon half calf and cloth, manuscript label on front cover. Corners and spine heavily worn, some loss to spine ends. Internally clean and highly legible. Large ledger detailing delinquent taxes for Petaluma for three years, listing names and values of personal property including..... More

Oakland: 1928. Sheet map, 14.5 x 22.5 inches, plus separate printed sheet. Previously Map and price list. A rare and detailed cadastral map, dated May 1928, of tracts under development by the Claremont Heights Company, south of Claremont Avenue and Garber Park in Oakland, in a neighborhood now known as..... More

San Francisco: 1895. [8],43-142,[4]pp. Oblong quarto. Original stiff pictorial wrappers, cloth spine. Crease and two short closed tears to front wrapper. Occasional dust soiling. A scarce promotional for Stockton and surrounding San Joaquin County, California, published by the local board of trade in 1895. The text is extensive, and the..... More

[Boston?]: 1900. [4]pp., on a bifolium. Quarto. Previously folded. Light wear along old folds and a couple of short closed tears at lower edge. Rare illustrated prospectus for the potentially fraudulent Bernalillo Oil Company, based in Boston and San Diego at the turn of the 20th century. The text promises..... More

Chico, CA: Chico Record Print, [1903]. [44]pp. Original wrappers, printed in gold, stapled. A very scarce promotional booklet for the California town of Chico for potential settlers, providing details on the history of the region, climate, scenery, industry, amenities, resources, and agricultural potential. The final few pages offer statistics on..... More

Whittier: Board of Trade, 1906. 16pp. Oblong octavo. Original printed wrappers, stapled. Light soiling and wear. Published less than twenty years after Whittier was founded by Quakers, this promotional work proudly proclaims that "there is now town of its size that will rank higher in intelligence, morality, and progressiveness." Just..... More

[Los Angeles. ca. 1900s?]. Broadside, 14 x 7 inches. A couple of chips and closed tears at edges. Backed with linen. Evenly tanned. Unrecorded broadside advertisement for farmland in the Los Angeles area, likely from the first decade of the 20th century. In addition to the "rich soil, level land..... More

[Monterey, Ca. ca. 1900s]. Large blueprint map, 52.5 x 65 inches. Light wear and occasional creasing. Several closed tear repaired on verso. Right edge trimmed, slightly affecting image and text. A rare and giant cadastral map showing new subdivisions east of downtown Monterey, in what are now the Del Monte..... More

[San Francisco? 1919]. Folded map, 21 x 28 inches. Promotional text printed on verso. Minor wear. Map highlighting lots in the city Pacific Grove, on the Monterey peninsula, owned by the Del Monte Properties Co. and to be sold by auctioneers Barry & Austin with no reserve. The text printed..... More

Placerville, Ca. 1929. Five blueprints, measuring from approximately 24 x 34 to 29 x 41 inches. Tipped onto modern cardboard backing at left edge, overlaid with brown paper. Light wear, a couple of archival repairs at edges. Contemporary blind stamps. A group five large and fascinating blueprints that delineate proposed..... More