California Gold Miner, Lengthy Letter Written from San Francisco, 1850

Lot 354

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6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States

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About Auction

American History, Featuring the Property of N. Flayderman & Co. by Cowan's Auctions

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American History, Featuring the Property of N...

By Cowan's Auctions

Jun 9, 2017 - Jun 10, 2017

Set Reminder 2017-06-09 10:00:00 2017-06-10 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : American History, Featuring the Property of N. Flayderman & Co. https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/american-history-featuring-the-property-of-n-flayderman-co-2392 Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com

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Lot Description

ALS signed Potts, 8pp, 8.5 x 10.5 in., San Francisco, California. April 11, 1850.

Potts was an ambitious seaman who decided to remain in San Francisco during the height of the California gold rush. He wrote to his sister, Sally, California is a golden land. I have no doubt that the whole peninsula from Oregon to Cape St. Lucas is one immense gold mine… New mines of unknown richness are being discovered ever day. Yet, for as many men as he saw gain fortunes, he witnessed an equal amount lose them to lady luck. You can form no idea of the gold which may be seen even in this city. I have visited gambling rooms and their name is “legion,” he wrote.

More than over half the diggers as soon as they have accumulated a sum say $2000 or $3000 dolls, come down here and in a short time all is given for the support of the gambling table…I saw a man bet 100 dabloons on every turn of the card for 12 or 13 turns, when he broke up the fund of the table and departed. I saw the same man the day after at another table and, from his appearance, from his apparent anxiety, I judge he had lost all.

One hopes that Potts did not fall into the same temptations of so many men and gamble away what he earned. He was a studied man and had some worldly experience from his travels. However, his identity remains a mystery, as does his fate. In his letter, he does go on to describe more about the gold in the area and the people in town. Overall, it is a fantastic Gold Rush letter. A valuable item for any collection.

Condition

Toning of the paper and typical folds. Some brittleness at the folds and minor portions missing that does not affect the legibility of the letter.
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