[California]:

$3,500 · Offered by William Reese Company

SACRAMENTO IN CALIFORNIEN...DES AUSWANDERERS HOFFUNG. Variant issue, without priority, of this delightful early view of Sacramento, showing the city inland from the river, complete with bustling streets and wharf. On the river are two ships flying American flags, one steamer, a ship flying the flag of Chile, and smaller boats. A large stack of lumber sits near the edge of the river, demonstrating the rapid growth of Sacramento in the early years of the Gold Rush. One large building facing the water is adorned with an elephant across the upper portion of its facade. The elephant figured prominently in the gold rush mythos. Those who said they "saw the elephant" meant that they had been there and seen the big show (as in "went to the circus and saw the elephant"). Thus, an early example of California billboard advertising. The print was most likely extracted from the German MAGAZIN IN BERLIN... and has an unrelated image on the verso. Reps locates only four copies. A rare California view.

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.