Mining Map of Inyo County...
At one time this eastern California county yielded a wealth of precious metals, and by 1868 one of its towns produced such an amount of silver that is was likened to the Comstock Lode of neighboring Nevada. This rare folding pocket map was issued toward the end of the rush, but is an complete picture of the region, in a promotional sense. But it isn't just mining, though the districts are noted, and the geology is inferred, but it also has a tourist intent as well, including the “delightful” properties of the waters of Lake Owen. It also notes where the “Emigrants perished” in Death Valley. With an running text above and below the map, it has a poetic as well as practical tone. A nice vignette shows “Mt. Whitney, From Lone Pine”. And yes, this interesting county holds both the highest point in the continental US, Mt. Whitney, as well as the lowest point, Death Valley. In its original thick blue papered folder, it is smaller and in excellent condition. The edges are surrounded in a printed gold and the title on the front is in an attractive gold encircled elipse.
The map is very good with some very light offsetting, but on a flawless sheet of paper. Printed by Britton & Rey, based in San Francisco, it is another fine instance of their work, and a crisp image. Image size is 15.5 x 17 (inches).
