Davis (William Heath) Seventy-five Years in California, Author's Section of  the Argonaut Edition, no. 142 [of 250 copies] signed by the editor and publisher on limitation leaf, numerous plates of facsimile letters, reproductions of engravings, photographs etc, additionally extra-illustrated with twenty-two original California related manuscript and printed ephemeral items as issued by the publisher, a few pages have been cut out, some restoration to first leaves, tan linen spine, original blue boards now paper-covered, staining and discolouration, printed paper label, pictorial endpapers, 4to, San Francisco, John Howell, 1929.  ***Additional ephemera inserted in the volume include:  an original typed document by Davis and dated 2 March 1896, describing Capt Eliab Grimes. (A notorious sea captain/businessman); an original typed copy of a letter from Davis to John Bidwell letter - In 1841 at the age of 22, John Bidwell became one of the first pioneers to cross the Sierra Nevada to California, was a Brigadier General in the California State Militia and from 1865 to 1866, served California as its representative in the United States Congress; an original "Proclamation" flyer by the San Francisco Mayor at the time of the Earthquake in 1906; "Jay Cooke & Co" signed check by the 18th President of the USA Ulysses S Grant dated 19 May 1869; handwritten letter by Schuyler Colfax (17th Vice President of the USA) dated 16 Dec 1870 believed to be to Benjamin Wade - President pro tempore of the United States Senate and uncle of the second wife of Colfax (Ellen "Nellie" Wade); San Francisco Indenture legal document for land in the city dated 18 Mar 1851 for EV Joice. (Erastus Volney Joice) Commissioner of Deeds San Francisco; original letter by Joseph Smallwood from Coloma dated 26 March 1853.  Writing to Edward M Davis thanking him for clearing a debt.   Smallwood was original Goldrush "49er" who went on to be one of the important political players in African-American civil rights.  Edward M Davis was a member of the Executive Committee of Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society among other things; Yellow Jacket Silver Mining Company shares certificate for Chas H Smith dated 17 March 1880; original "Put's Songster" lyrics for the song "California Stage Company" 1858. Popular folk song of the times; original Union Pacific timetable July 1869 with advertisements on reverse; two cheques The Bank of California 5 Feb 1875 and The Navada Bank of San Francisco.5 Nov 1880. Signed by John Mackay and James Fair, two of the four members of the famous Bonanza Firm; a Wells Fargo San Francisco exchange department note with original envelope to agent JW O'Rear in Downieville 1868; Memorandum of Lots written by Rodman McCamley Price, naval officer and Governor of New Jersey;  original 1855 New York Herald newspaper; Report by the Mercantile Library Association 1859 on the proposal of an "Erection of an Edifice" - i.e. the library); original April 19 1906 San Francisco newspaper - first one published after the Earthquake. Published by a joint effort of three newspapers “THE CALL-CHRONICLE-EXAMINER” (very good condition). A total of 2250 copies were printed. Of these, 250 were printed on special paper and included an extra table of contents listing additional material which came with the book. Copies numbered 151 to 250 were called the "Argonaut edition" ; the "Author's section of Argonaut edition" comprised copies 101 to 150; the "El Dorado" edition were those numbered 46 to 100: the "Pioneer" edition were copies 26 to 45: "California collectors" were copies 4 to 25; and finally there was an Editorial copy, a Publisher's copy and the Presidential copy destined for Herbert Hoover.