Historical Souvenir of San Francisco, Cal.
With Views of Prominent Buildings, the Bay, Islands, Etc.
San Francisco: C. P. Heininger, Publisher, 1871. 7.5 inches, duodecimo. Cream cloth boards, elaborately gilt-decorated front panel with floral motifs and a sailing-ship vignette, gilt-lettered "San Francisco, Cal." Rear board embossed with the California state seal. Folding panoramic view bound at the front; a central fold-out section of approximately 15 pages, single-sided, primarily depicting San Francisco architecture and landmarks, extending to nearly 6.5 feet when fully unfolded; and a bound text section of 30 pages at the rear.
Good. Binding with some soiling, staining, and shelf wear; gilt shows scattered green tarnishing. The central 15-page architectural fold-out section is loose and detached from the binding; the front panorama and text sections remain bound in place. The center section carries a period gift inscription in pencil. One small closed edge tear to text section. Red stamp to rear pastedown.
Predating the 1906 earthquake and fire that destroyed many of the buildings depicted within. Heininger's view-books are rare survivors of the city's pre-earthquake streetscape and architecture, published in several variant printings through the 1880s and 90s — this is among the earlier examples.
