This exceptionally rare, Illustrated California Lettersheet is titled "The Winter of 1852 & 3" and was published by Britton & Rey of San Francisco. The Stone Lithograph Illustrated Lettersheet / Illustrated Stationery measures approx. 10 1/2" by 8 1/4" and is a complete, single sheet Lettersheet (back is blank for use in letter writing).

    Each of the four views show a somewhat comic and somewhat horrific scene of the life of the California Gold Miners during the winter of 1852-3. The first illustration is a view of the interior of a store with 3 Gold Miners with picks and shovels stand dumbstruck when faces with the exorbitant prices charges for goods – signs on the walls show the cost of a pound of flour, beans and barley at $200 per pound – anywhere from 40 to 100 times the price in the East in 1850. The store’s owner sits atop sacks of flour smoking a cigar. The second illustration depicts two gold miners trudging through the deep snow carrying supplies on their backs toward a cabin in the distance. In the foreground the body of a mule lays on the ground – their pack animal which can no longer carry their supplies. The third illustration is a view of a flooded San Francisco street with miners trying to coax their horses to drag their wagons through the water and mud. The fourth illustration depicts a “train” of wagons and pack mules trudging along a badly flooded path with the miners attempting to drive the animals through the flood.

    We have been able to find only a single example of this exceptionally rare California Letter Sheet in any Library or Museum Collection - that being held in the UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library. We believe this Letter Sheet to be both exceptionally rare and historically important!!

    This fantastic, 1853 California Gold Rush period Illustrated Broadside Lettersheet is in very good condition - generally clean and crisp with two small spots of light staining in the lower left and right hand corners caused by an old tape mount that has been re43moved. There is some light creases to the edges of the Sheet but overall this very rare and original California Gold Rush Lettersheet is well preserved and displays nicely!

    An exceptionally rare and highly sought after, original 1853 California Gold Rush Illustrated Letter Sheet depicting four views of the trials and tribulations of the Gold Miners during the bitter winter of 1852-3 in the gold region of California and a fantastic addition to any collection!!!