Spiel, George “Fall North Wall of Bloody Canon.” [near Mammoth Lakes, California]

George Spiel.  “Fall North Wall of Bloody Canon.”  [near Mammoth Lakes, California]. 

From John Muir's Picturesque California.  New York and San Francisco: J. Dewing Publishing Company, 1888. Imperial Japan Artist Proof Edition.   Ca. 7 x 10 1/2. Photogravure. Signed in pencil by the artist.  Edition: 100.  Very good condition. 

Partly in response to the success of Picturesque America, San Francisco publisher James Dewing conceived the idea of doing a similar work on California and nearby western areas to be entitled Picturesque California. The full extent of the topic is indicated by the subtitle: The Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Slope. California, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Etc. Illustrated with Etchings, Photogravures, Wood Engravings, Etc. With text edited by John Muir, Dewing gather images by a number of (as the title states) "Eminent American Artists." The work was intended to provide an overall picture of the Far West, both its natural and cultural wonders, produced primarily for a western audience. It was sold by subscription and included eight hundred images produced by a variety of printing methods.   This print is from a very small edition in which the photogravures and were signed in pencil by the various artists who contributed to this publication.