First Edition Eckfeldt and Du Bois' 1850 Coins

Heading:
Author: Eckfeldt, Jacob Reese & William E. Du Bois
Title: New Varieties of Gold and Silver Coins, Counterfeit Coins, and Bullion, with Mint Values
Place Published: Philadelphia
Publisher:Published by the Authors
Date Published: 1850
Description: 60, (1) pp. With steel-engraved frontispiece, coin plate printed in gold on blue paper, plus other engraved images throughout. 17.8x11 cm (7x4½"), blue cloth stamped in gold. First Edition.One of the most sought-after and most fragile books on gold coinage at the time of the California Gold Rush. Streeter calls the slender volume "An important reference book for the beginning of gold mining in California." Pages 21 to 31 describe four varieties of California gold coins issued from the following mints: "N.G. & N." of San Francisco, Oregon Exchange Company, Miners' Bank of San Francisco, and Moffat & Company of San Francisco; chapter IV is entitled "Gold from California." This copy unfortunately lacks the actual samples of California gold which should be underneath two small formica disks mounted on p.45; there is evidence of their removal. Cowan p.191; Kurutz 217a; Sabin 21786; Streeter 2629; Wheat Books 67.
Condition Report: Light wear and rubbing to boards, joints cracked; scattered toning and occasional foxing; very good.