San Francisco, after the Civil War...
Item # 710041
June 01, 1867
DAILY ALTA CALIFORNIA, San Francisco, June 1, 1867
* Rare old West publication
The very first title in the Golden State was the "Californian" begun in 1846, followed the next year by the "California Star". These two titles merged and in 1849 the combined enterprise was called the "Alta California", becoming a daily in July. It became the first successful newspaper in California, lasting until 1891.
Page 2 has an article: "Something For California Tax-Payers to Think About"
Six pages with pages 1-4 of very large size and pages 5-6 of much smaller size. Some margin wear, light foxing to an upper portion, small hole to the front leaf. Folder size noted is for the issue folded in half.
background: The Daily Alta California represents the gold standard of pioneer journalism, serving as a vital bridge between the lawless 1840s and the sophisticated San Francisco of the late 19th century. By the time this June 1, 1867, issue went to press, the publication had cemented its legacy not just as a commercial hub for ship schedules and mining reports, but as a literary powerhouse that facilitated the rise of Mark Twain. Having famously sponsored Twain's voyage aboard the Quaker City that very year, the Alta transformed the rough-and-tumble style of Western reporting into a platform for biting wit and cultural commentary, ultimately surviving for over four decades as the definitive record of the state's transition from a rugged frontier to a burgeoning American empire.
* Rare old West publication
The very first title in the Golden State was the "Californian" begun in 1846, followed the next year by the "California Star". These two titles merged and in 1849 the combined enterprise was called the "Alta California", becoming a daily in July. It became the first successful newspaper in California, lasting until 1891.
Page 2 has an article: "Something For California Tax-Payers to Think About"
Six pages with pages 1-4 of very large size and pages 5-6 of much smaller size. Some margin wear, light foxing to an upper portion, small hole to the front leaf. Folder size noted is for the issue folded in half.
background: The Daily Alta California represents the gold standard of pioneer journalism, serving as a vital bridge between the lawless 1840s and the sophisticated San Francisco of the late 19th century. By the time this June 1, 1867, issue went to press, the publication had cemented its legacy not just as a commercial hub for ship schedules and mining reports, but as a literary powerhouse that facilitated the rise of Mark Twain. Having famously sponsored Twain's voyage aboard the Quaker City that very year, the Alta transformed the rough-and-tumble style of Western reporting into a platform for biting wit and cultural commentary, ultimately surviving for over four decades as the definitive record of the state's transition from a rugged frontier to a burgeoning American empire.
Item from last month's catalog - #364 - released for March, 2026.
Category: The Old West
