George Horatio Derby, better known as a brilliant humorist, was a trained topographer and produced several maps of major importance.

Important California Gold Rush map made from the original sketch by Lt. Derby in the office of the 10th Military Dept. It is historically important, not only for its depiction of Gen. Riley's route, but because it names, for the first time, certain actual mining camps in the middle Sierra foothills; Mormon Island (misspelled Mormont), Coloma (mislabeled Colluma), Curtis, Sullivan's, Corons, Jamestown, Woods and Sonora. The entire route of the Riley party is noted, with the dates of their visits to the various camps, and covers the region from Monterrey Bay, north to Sacramento and east to the gold diggings.

References: Wheat (Gold) #79; Wagner-Camp-Becker 179 b: 1 & 2.

Condition: B

Issued folding, now pressed. Nice and bright impression with some fold separations and tears repaired with archival tape on verso.