(CALIFORNIA) Bruff J Goldsborough Rebus letter about his gol

Sale 2380 - Lot 68

Price Realized: $ 2,250

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 800 - $ 1,200

(CALIFORNIA.) Bruff, J. Goldsborough. Rebus letter about his gold-mining adventures. Lithograph, 11 1/2 x 18 inches, folded to make 2 pages; worn at folds with slight loss, archival repairs. (MRS) [Washington], August 1856

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J. Goldsborough Bruff (1804-1889) was a well-known artist and mapmaker who went west to California in 1849. Here he reminisces about his old California friends and discusses his plans for a book on his Gold Rush adventures, all told humorously with the help of rebus symbols. For example, "I can serve you" is spelled out with pictures of an eye, a can, and a yew. He concludes the letter with a mining scene. It is addressed to his friend W.S. Burch "in San Francisco, or somewhere else in California, or in Oregon, or in the Sandwich Islands, or maybe in Japan." Only 2 copies in OCLC, and only one other copy known at auction.