1857 CALIFORNIA 1ed McGowan Narrative Secret Vigilante Societies San Francisco

1857 CALIFORNIA 1^ed McGowan Narrative Secret Vigilante Societies San Francisco

“one of the few original prime sources on this important chapter of early California history” – Eberstadt

Edward “Ned” McGowan was a 19^th-century American lawyer who was best-known for his adventures in gold-rush era California. While serving as a judge in San Francisco, a secret society known as the Committee of Vigilance saw a number of vigilante-like members seek to establish justice. The group set their sights on McGowan, causing him to flee California to avoid being lynched!

McGowan’s own memoir was published in 1857 to much success. Even today, this book is a prime source of the California gold rush, secret societies and trials, anti-immigration propaganda, and the influence of Mexican ranchers on southern California.

Item number: #27392

Price: $950

McGOWAN, Edward (Ned)

Narrative of Edward McGowan: Including a Full Account of the Author’s Adventures and Perils While Persecuted by the San Francisco Vigilance Committee of 1856

San Francisco: Published by the author, 1857. First edition.

Details:

• Collation:
  • viii, 9-240
    • Wanting p. 131-134
  • 7 illustrations
• References: Adams, Six Guns 1408; Wheat, Gold Rush 132; Graff 2611; Eberstadt 106: 109a; Zamorano 80, no. 54; Howes M-103
  • Graff: “Ned McGowan, as his Narrative proves, and as Carl I. Wheat indicates in his continuation of the work, was a prime rascal, one of the truly colorful characters in California during the middle of the last century.”
  • Zamorano: “one of the rare pieces of Californiana…published in pamphlet form by `Ned’ McGowan, one-time justice of the peace in San Francisco, and an ex-convict from Pennsylvania, as a vindication of his conduct in absconding after being accused of complicity in the murder of James King of William”
• Provenance: Handwritten – [ N. Kierneff]
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover; tight and secure
  • Rebind, with facsimile of original dust jacket pasted to both boards
• Size: ~7.75in X 4.75in (19cm x 12cm)
• VERY rare with auction records and price comparisons at $4500

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