Life in California before the Conquest; Hispano-Californians, Leperos and Indians, Franciscan Misioneros and Misioneros, American and English Comerciantes, Puertos, Presidios, Castillos, Sailors and Backwoodsmen, Revolutions and Strife

San Francisco: The Private Press of Thomas C. Russell, 1925. First Edition. Very Good Plus. In 1925, Thomas C. Russell, decided to research and republish Robinson's 1846 book as part of his California history series from his private press. For this book, and the others in the series, Russell would edit and added notes to the original editions. He would make extensive pencil annotations and editing notes throughout the book for typesetting of the republished work. His notes significantly add to the rich narrative of Robinson's book and provides historic insights. In this book he refers to Robinson as a "Pioneer Californian Transportation Manager".

Alfred Robinson(1806-1895), immigrated to Mexican Alta California in 1829 as an resident agent in the export of cattle hides and tallow. He became a well-connected businessman, and sympathetic to Californio society by marrying into a prominent family (de la Guerra). In this book, Robinson describes his personal activities and the politics of California under the Mexican control. He describes the history of the settlements, ranchos, and the Catholic missions. He was witness to the changes in the California economies and social structure with the increasing American and foreign immigrants and interests. He published the book in 1846 anonymously and it covered the period from 1829 to 1842. The Mexican-American war (1846-48) and the American conquest of the province had great impact to the California society along with the discovery of gold in 1848. Robinson's book became very popular with people rushing off to California. It was reprinted a number of times in various forms and abridgments. No. 7 of 250 limited copies, SIGNED by Russell, [10x7in]; xxvii, 316 pp., forward and notes by Russell, [12] colophon, Russell advertising, tipped in extra spine label, seven listed plates of mezzotint illustrations including frontispiece, unlisted black ink plate (p. 272), all plates with glassine type covers; Light blue paper boards with tan linen backstrip, black ink lettering on bordered paper label on spine, top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed; Some wear to covers, edges and corners, age-toning along edges, rubbing to covers and bottom edges, corners bumped, spine linen and label darken, light age toning to text, plates unaffected, lacking dust wrapper, bookplate of Alfred I Esberg on front end paper. [Volkmann Zamorano80 65a, Hill 1470, Norris 3290, Howes R363 (1846)].

The eight plates in this book, from the lithographs in the 1846 edition, are (1) Frontispiece Presidio of Santa Barbara [town view], (2) Mission San Luis Rey, p42, (3) Mission San Gabriel, p50, (4) Presidio of Santa Barbara p62 [water view with ship], (5) Mision Santa Barbara, p66, (6) Mision San Buena Ventura, p70, (7) Anchorage at "Yerba Buena", Puerto de San Francisco, p80, ([8] unlisted) The Temescal, or Hot-air Bath, of Nueva California, p272.

Thomas C. Russell (? - 1931) was a long prominent San Francisco printer, publisher and author from the mid-1880's to his death in 1931. This book, and his many other books, are well researched, beautifully written, designed and printed. His research has added to the history of California and the exploration of the Pacific Northwest. The printings were always limited and the early books were numbered and signed with a full signature along with occasional handwritten annotations by Russell. After Russell's death, his remaining bound and unbound stock were acquired by a bookseller. These were generally latter published books that were haphazardly numbered and/or signed as Russell in various formats, and generally, not disclosed.

Alfred I. Esberg (1870-1955) was a long standing member of the California Historical Society and businessman in San Francisco. He was a Tobacco merchant in New York and relocated to San Francisco in 1917. In California, he became involved in real estate and civic responsibilities with the board of education. He wrote articles and researched historical events for the California Historical Society publications [California Historical Society Quarterly, Vol. 35, Issue 1, March 1956].