This 88 page promotional guide is offered “Compliments of the Wm. L. Patten & Co.,” a maker of camping tents and equipment. The guide is profusely illustrated with early views of Colorado scenery and places, advertisements of a wide variety of local businesses, including a wonderful ad for the Chain & Hardy bookstore, and a long article, “Our Summer Trip” by “A.S.L.,” whose identity is unknown. The article reports on a trip from Chicago to Denver of the possibly fictionalized Adriance family. Extensive detail is provided of the family’s sight-seeing tour that took them to Denver and many nascent towns (e.g. the population of Boulder is given as 4,000, having quadrupled within 5 years) in 1877, the first year of Colorado statehood. The trip included a challenging climb of Pike’s Peak by mule. A rare item with no past sales records and OCLC showing only one institutional holding at the Denver Public Library. Lithographed by Collier & Cleveland in Denver. 12mo., original pictorial paper wrappers.

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Condition: B+

Minor soiling with old library stamps on a few pages (including the title page) and front wrapper. Wrappers are moderately worn and soiled.