The Dawn of the World: Myths and Weird Tales Told by the Mewan Indians of California (association copy)
Cleveland: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1910. First edition. Hardcover. A standout association copy, inscribed on the front free endpaper: "For Francis P. Farquhar, compliments of C. Hart Merriam." Uncommon signed. This book is Merriam's compilation of mythology of the Miwok (Mewan) tribe of Northern California. Best known as an ornithologist, mammalogist ("the father of mammalogy"), and the head of the US Biological Survey, Merriam "stunned his colleagues" later in his career by leaving mammalogy behind to chronicle disappearing indigenous cultures though he had no formal training in ethnography; the door was opened to this work when in his surveys of animals he'd come to rely on indigenous informants and began to learn Native languages. This transition certainly recommends him on multiple levels, revealing a polymathic and humanistic mind. Mary Harriman, the widow of railroad magnate Edward Henry Harriman, funded his work in ethnography. This book is one result, a collection of myths that Merriam heard in the field from the coast to the Sierra foothills, and the overlap with his biological career is clear, as these myths are filled with animals and ethological knowledge (animal behavior). He provides a ten page introduction, and each short myth is prefaced by the location of its telling and its cast of character, with explanatory footnotes scattered throughout. This association is particularly strong because the recipient, Francis P. Farquhar, was a standout California intellectual and conservationist who would have been keenly interested in this work. An accomplished mountain climber, environmentalist, author, bibliographer and fine press bibliophile, among other roles Farquhar served for several years as the president of the Sierra Club. There's a mountain named for him in Kings Canyon National Park. His History of the Sierra Nevada is a classic book, combining all of his interests. A large octavo in red buckram, gilt lettering on spine, rough cut pages. With eleven illustrations and a color frontispiece Edwin W. Deming of New York and Charles J. Hittell of San Francisco. A bibliography and index at rear. About near fine with a little light rubbing to spine edges and ends, and some light bumping to corners; a small chip to the edge of two leaves, pages 31-34. A standout association copy in excellent condition. Near fine. Item #1411
Price: $2,500.00 save 5% $2,375.00