Very rare and important historical document beautifully illustrated with a full-color map and 87 charming lithographic plates. The illustrations cover the whole of Los Angeles County, with the city of Los Angeles and the surrounding small townships such as San Gabriel, Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Catalina Island. The plates have a pleasant, romantic quality and reflect the agricultural origins of the region's wealth as exemplified by the superb double-page plate showing the vast orange and lemon groves between Alameda and San Pedro Streets. Also pictured are businesses, warehouses, ranches, mills, stables, hotels, a carriage manufacturer, vineyards, and churches. Scores of homes, from the grand governor's residence to small farm houses, are pictured. At the front of the book is a Map of California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona (9.5 x 12.5 in.) by Thompson and West, 1880. The map includes details of railroads, forts, and Indian Reservations. The author, J. Albert Wilson, was a writer of prose and poetry. He came to Los Angeles for the sole purpose of writing this book and left immediately upon its conclusion. It was published by Thompson & West, Oakland, CA. 192 pp. Oblong folio. Hardbound in original brown cloth with decorative embossing. Gilt title on front, and spine.

References: Howes #W-531.

Condition: A

The title page was previously torn out, now repaired with paper and archival tape, and reinforced with tissue. The title page also has some extraneous creases and a couple additional paper repairs. The rest of the contents are very good to near fine. The covers are lightly rubbed, the spine has minor cracking with some loss, and appears to have an old repair, but is still very sound. The binding is tight.