Fresno County California and the Evolution of the Fruit Vale Estate

[Fresno, CA]: [M[artin] Theo[dore] Kearney, 1904. Souvenir edition, using the sheets from the 1903 ed. . Oblong octavo, 7-3/4" x 10-1/2". 179, [1] pp. Purple wraps printed in pale grey, stab-bound with a tied string. Profusely illustrated from b/w photographs and engravings, approx. 150 illustrations total. Wrappers lightly toned, with three short tears to the spine and sticker shadow/slight adhesive to rear wrapper; lower corner of beginning pages lightly creased; minor soil to one margin. Very Good.

An interesting souvenir booklet with particular attention paid to the farming industry of Fresno, designed "to convey to the mind of the reader, as thoroughly with wth as little loss of time as possible, an impression of the extraordinary resources of the central portion of California, and to illustrate what may be accomplished in a very brief period by a combination of intelligent labor, moderate capital, rich soil, abundance of water for irrigation, and a climate that is especially healthful and exceedingly favorable to all out-door pursuits" (p. 5).

In addition to typical views of the town, lumber and poultry yards, creamery, raisin fields, automobiles, etc., images include "Armenians picking wine grapes" and "Civilized Indians, sheep shearers and grape pickers"; both of the latter images include small children.

Scarce in commerce. We note two copies of this edition and 10 copies of the 1903 edition in OCLC.