338. MUIR, John. The Mountains of California.
[xvi], 381 pp.; tan cloth decorated in green & gold; 51 engraved & halftone illustrations; 2 maps. New York: The Century Co., 1894.
First Edition, first issue, with folio I below the text on page 1, of first book by Muir. Zamorano Eighty 56. Kimes & Kimes, John Muir, 189. Currey & Kruska, Yosemite, 258. Inscribed by Muir: “Going to the mountains is going home. John Muir, Martinez , California, March 1, 1895.” With (faint) pencil sketch by Muir of Mount Fairweather in Alaska. Also with inscription by Ernest Dawson, founder & long-time proprietor of Dawson’s Book Shop in Los Angeles: “March 8, 1931 to Glen Dawson with much love, from Father”.

This was an appropriate title for Ernest Dawson to gift to Glen. In 1928, at the age of sixteen, Glen accompanied his father on a book buying trip to Europe. During that trip they scheduled an interlude from book buying to climb the Matterhorn with guides. Three years later, in 1931, Glen was a member of a climbing party organized by Francis Farquhar to attack the East Face of Mt. Whitney. This successful pioneer ascent of the East Face was accomplished by Glen Dawson, Robert Underhill, Norman Clyde and Jules Eichorn. Includes chapter on Bee Pastures, with references to Pasadena, Eaton’s Canyon and San Gabriel Mountains. Clipped magazine photos & biographical sketch of John Muir laid down on front pastedown and front free endpaper, scattered foxing, otherwise this important association copy near fine. (10,000/15,000)

219. [WILSON, John Albert] History of Los Angeles (and Orange) County) California with illustrations descriptive of its Scenery, Residences, Fine Blocks, Manufactories.
192 pages, map in color, 112 full page lithographed plates, original stamped cloth with leather back strip, red edges. 11 1/4 by 14 3/4 inches. Oakland: Thompson & West, 1880.
Dawson 80 78. Rocq 2657. Layne 53. The great picture book of Los Angeles., Wilson had few book sources but read the newspapers and interviewed pioneers. There are many copies in existence but some copies were broken up and the illustrations hand colored and sold separately. Stuart Robinson records that Dawson’s Book Shop listed 18 copies ranging in price from $7.50 to $600.00 My copy was acquired from Michael Dawson listed as number 94 in Catalogue 550 listed at $2500.00. It is a very good copy except like many copies the first few leaves have a vertical crease. Reprinted in 1959 in slightly smaller form and with an Introduction by W. W. Robinson. (4000/7000)

227. LOS ANGELES TELEPHONE CO. Los Angeles Exchange,
3 pp. and blank on stiff cardstock. Los Angeles: Jno Lawrence, Superintendent, April 13,1882.
Quebedeaux 29: “The telephone was invented on March 10, 1876, and telephones were first installed in Los Angeles in 1882. Prior to this directory, the caller would simply give the name of the person wanted to the operator, and a connection would be made (the number of subscribers was so small that the operator had no difficulty in knowing who had a telephone). If the call was for a nonsubscriber, the operator dispatched a messenger to summon that person to the central office to answer the call.” First Los Angeles telephone directory listing 90 subscribers. See Newmark, 3rd ed., p. 53l. Hager collection. With a copy of the reprint apparently made from this original. Sloan Auction Sale Eight, 1999 item 41 brought $3800, looked very similar to this Hager-Dawson copy. Old vertical fold, paper toned, otherwise very good. (4000/7000)