THREE BOUND VOLUMES of ABSTRACT OF TITLE to large sections of LAND in RANCHO MONTE DEL DIABLO / SANTA CLARA COUNTY, known as THE PACHECO GRANT.

(1) ABSTRACT of TITLE to LANDS of MANUEL WILLIAMS - Described as PORTION OF RANCHO MONTE DEL DIABLO / County of Contra Costa, California. Made by Contra Costa Abstract and Title Company, Martinez, California. Hardbound, leather spine and corners, string bound, 9x14 inches.

The first 50 pages are MANUSCRIPT, with handwriting only on the front side of each page. The subsequent pages, 51 to 90, are typed and mimeographed abstracts, deeds, and official Contra Costa certifications.

The manuscript abstract includes wills, grant rights, etc. The first page of this manuscript abstract of title begins: "Abstract of Title of Heirs of John Johnston, Deceased, to 210 Acres in the Racho Monte Del Diablo of PACHECO GRANT, Contra Costa County, California. By C. S. Cousins / Searcher of Records for Contra Costa County."

There are many names of claimants, defendants, and County officers in this manuscript abstract of title, including; Salvio Pacheco, Salvador Pacheco, Manuel Williams, John Galindo, Mariana Amador de Galindo, Conception Pacheco de Soto, Ygnacio Amador, Samuel Dwinelle (District Judge), and many others. This manuscript abstract covers a period 1859-1896, with the last manuscript page (page 50) being a certification signed by J.S. Cousins, and dated May 24th, 1896.

Bound in following the manuscript abstract of title are printed documents dated 1904 to 1916, including: "Continuation of Abstract of Title to the lands of HELEN GREENLEAF, described as Portion of the Rancho Monte del Diablo", "Continuation of Abstract of Title to the lands of MANUEL WILLIAMS", and various Deeds, Wills, and Agreements.

A fold-open blueprint map is tipped onto the inside rear cover, titled: "Map of a portion of Division N of the Fernando Pacheco Estate..."

Laid into the rear of this abstract is a folded "Agreement / Johnson Blois with Manuel Williams" dated October 1916.

(2) ABSTRACT OF TITLE to the lands of MARIETTA J. BACON, being a portion of the RANCHO MONTE DEL DIABLO, containing 79.53 acres of land situated in CONTRA COSTA COUNTY. Filled with printed documents relating to distribution of property, including attestations of ownership, complaints, settlements, court documents, agreements, etc. Documents dated 1858 to 1906. Tipped on the inside rear cover is a handwritten statement on "The Bank of Concord" letterhead, dated Oct. 24, 1901: "I have examined the title to the lands described in the abstract herein and find...there is no lien or encumbrance excluding taxes for 1901". Bound in hardcovers, string bound at the top, 8.5x13 inches, 66 pages.

(3) ABSTRACT OF TITLE to LOTS 3 and 8 / GOVERNMENT or GWIN RANCH / RANCHO MONTE DEL DIABLO - As Shown by the Various Records of the County of Contra Costa. Compiled by the Martinez Abstract & Title Company, Searchers of Records, Martinez, Contra Costa County. Dated August 3, 1917.

A compilation of Abstract of Title and supporting documents, compiled "At the Request of Mr. MANUEL WILLIAMS". Documents are all reprints of documents from 1859 to 1917, all reprinted by the Martinez Abstract and Title Company. Bound in hardcovers, string bound at the top, 8.5x13 inches, 77 pages printed on one side only.

A signed Certification by the Martinez Abstract and Title Company dated 1917 is at the end: "This is to certify that the foregoing 77 pages...are a full, true and correct Unlimited Abstract of Title, showing all instruments and documents of record...affecting the title hereinafter described property, to the date hereof."

CONDITION: All three volumes are in GOOD condition, the covers are worn at the edges and corners (especially the first volume) but are solid and doing their job well; internally, there is a smudge here and there, but overall the pages are very nice, bright, clean and clear. A solid, nice, fully legible set.

1869 COAST PILOT OF ALASKA First Part - FROM SOUTHERN BOUNDARY TO COOK'S INLET. By George Davidson. From the Introduction: "The coast, harbors, climate, and productions of Alaska, formed the principal part of the official report of George Davidson, who was in charge of the geographical reconnaissance of the coast of Alaska, in August, September, October, and November 1867..."

WASHINGTON: Government Printing Office, 1869. First edition.

Hardcovers, cloth covered boards, gilt titling to the front cover and spine, 7x10.5 inches, 251 pages plus the unnumbered plates. ILLUSTRATED with 8 plates, 2 of which fold-open. Four of the 8 plates are loose but in their proper place. All are solid, bright, clear and attractive.

GOOD condition: the covers' are worn through at the corner tips and spine ends, the gilt on the front cover and spine has faded, substantially so on the spine, the spine ends are chipped and the spine folds are cracking but holding well, and there are some shelf rubs; overall the covers are original, solid, and doing their job. Internally, the pages are lightly toned as normal, a few pages are loosening but holding with the sewn binding. The EIGHT PLATES are all present, four are loose but in their proper place, they are all clean and bright.

SIGNED and INSCRIBED by the AUTHOR on the title page: "Col. Brantz Mayer U.S.A. [U.S. Army] / With the regards of George Davidson [signed]".

******Brantz Mayer, b.1809 d.1879, was an American writer, lawyer, and historian. In 1844, he founded the Maryland Historical Society. During the American Civil War, Mayer was an active Unionist, and in 1861 was appointed president of the Maryland Union State general committee, and did much to aid the Union cause. In 1867, he was appointed a paymaster in the United States Army [rank of Colonel], a post which he held until 1875.****** - Wikipedia.

Hard-to-Find, especially so SIGNED and INSCRIBED, and with all its plates present.

Side Note: The bottom of the rear pastedown has the small label: "The Torch Press Book Shop / Cedar Rapids / Iowa". The press opened in 1907, the book shop a while later, dissolved c.1962. An early and important Midwest printing and bookselling operation. You can read about it online on a number of University of Iowa websites.

Two historic circa 1880 photographs of an early and notable HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA settler, OTIS HILL, and what appears to be his young daughter, in front of their house at "Willow Tree Farm" in what was then called HAYWARDS, California.

Two photographs, one 6.5x8.5 inch and one 6x8 inch, both mounted on 11x14 inch card mounts. Written on the backside of each mount is: "WILLOW TREE FARM / OTIS HILL / HAYWARDS / CAL." The fact that the photograph identifies the town as "Haywards" allows the photograph to be dated from between 1876 and 1880. (The town was incorporated in 1876 and given the official name HAYWARDS, but a few years later, circa 1880, the "S" was dropped and the town became HAYWARD.)

VERY GOOD condition: The mounts are lightly soiled, have some edge and corner wear, and a few smallish stains to the backsides; one mount has a clipped corner. The photographs are lovely with just a few light rubs and a couple small superficial scrapes.

How HAYWARDS California became HAYWARD California (from the City website):

******Hayward was originally known as "Hayward's", then as "Haywood", later as "Haywards", and eventually as "Hayward". On his way from gold country to San Francisco in 1851,a failed prospector named William Hayward passed through what is now downtown Hayward. He liked what he saw and bought some land. In 1852, Hayward set up a small general store at the corner of A Street and Mission Boulevard. The store became a major stop on the road from Oakland to San Jose. Hayward expanded his business, erecting a lodging house that grew to become the famous Hayward's Hotel. When the town was incorporated on March 11, 1876, it was officially named "Haywards" after the landmark hotel. The "s" was dropped several years later.******

About OTIS HILL of HAYWARDS, California (from History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California, Pages 1189-1190. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.):

******Prominent among the pioneer residents of Alameda county is OTIS HILL, a venerable and highly respected agriculturist, whose ranch is located about one mile from the city of Hayward. In the development of this section of the county, and in the advancement of its welfare, he has been an important factor. Coming here a full half century ago, he, with the other early settlers of this locality, bravely endured the hardships and privations of pioneer life. Mr. Hill was born, September 21, 1827, in Lockport, N.Y., a son of Orson Hill.

Coming to California by the Nicaragua route in 1855, he located in Hayward's, where he had a brother living. In 1856 Mr. Hill bought, for $900, one hundred and thirty acres of land in the Castro valley. Some time during the sixties he got the Spanish grant title to two hundred acres. He has now in his home ranch many acres of valuable land, supplied with water from a spring, and lying on the line of the Haywards and Oakland Electric line, a most favorable location. He carried on general farming, paying special attention to the cultivation of fruits, and is quite successful. He also has a valuable gravel pit, which is a source of considerable revenue.******

Two Large Format Sales Agent's Policy Kits / Books, with receipts for policies sold and with information for the agent regarding pricing and issuing policies. Hartford Fire Insurance, 1895 and 1896. The sales agent that owned these policy portfolios was a woman, Abby C. Sturgeon of Newman, Stanislaus County, California. Her territory, deduced from the bound in written policies, was apparently Stanislaus and Merced Counties, California, including Modesto and surrounding areas. The two portfolio type kits / books measure 12.5 x 18 inches. They open to show Hartford Company Rules for Agents pasted on the inside front and rear covers. Also bound inside the portfolios are the stubs for policies that have been issued and full policy issuing sheets. One of the portfolios has 12 stubs that are filled in with names and other relevant issuing information. This portfolio has no blank policy forms remaining to be used. The other portfolio has 5 stubs with filled in info and has 14 policy sheets that remain unused, unissued. The two portfolio policy books are only in FAIR condition, the covers are soiled, have stains and sunning, and are shaky; internally some of the items tipped onto the inside covers are creased and wrinkled. Nonetheless these vintage insurance items are original and all the printing and handwriting is clear and legible. Some interesting genealogy from 19th Century Stanislaus County and Merced County, California. Interesting also is that this 1895 insurance sales agent of farm policies was a woman. INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: These Two Portfolios are HEAVY and LARGE and will require substantial additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the additional charges and be able to accept or reject them before your payment is processed. Or you can contact us in advance to find out the shipping charge to your country. Thanks.

THE SAN FRANCISCO BLOCK BOOK: Comprising Fifty Vara Survey, One Hundred Vara Survey, Mission, Western Addition, Richmond District, Sunset District, Flint Tract and Horner's Addition.

Showing SIZE OF LOTS AND BLOCKS and NAMES OF OWNERS, compiled from Latest Official Records. OCTOBER, 1901.

Published by The Hicks-Judd Company, Publishers, San Francisco, California, October, 1901.

From the introductory "To Subscribers" page: "It is with pardonable price that the publishers issue this, the second edition of the San Francisco Block Book. The first edition is long since exhausted...The present publication contains nearly twice the amount of data as appeared in the first edition, and all the maps, over 700, have been enlarged to double the size...The former edition comprised the Fifty Vara and One Hundred Vara Surveys, Western Addition and Mission. The present work in addition to the foregoing contains in full the Richmond District, Sunset District, Flint Tract, Horner's Addition, and a few other tracts. The paper is of the finest quality made especially for this work with a view to strength. The work was produced in the establishment of The Hicks-Judd Company...a volume unequaled in value as a reference book to San Francisco real estate. / San Francisco, October, 1901."

LARGE FORMAT HARDCOVER BOOK, leather spine and corners with pebbled cloth covered boards, gilt titling to spine, marbled endpapers, 10x13.5 inches. Pagination: [i-iii] title page and "To Subscribers" page, [iv]-xvii Index MAPS, xviii-xx blank pages for notes, 34-730 MAPS, 731-736 blank pages for notes. Complete, as issued. The book is thick and heavy.

GOOD condition: The covers are worn at the spine folds including 2 inches of splitting at the top of the spine folds and 1.5 inches of splitting at the bottom of the spine folds, the spine leather is rubbed, the covers are worn at the corners and edges, still the covers are sturdy, doing their job well, and attractive in a Harry Potter Hogwarts Library fashion. Internally, there are a couple edge chips here and there, the upper hinge is splitting for an inch or so at a few places, overall the inner pages are very nice, tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. A solid, nice copy.

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: This book is large, thick and heavy and will require substantial additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the additional charges and be able to accept or reject them before your payment is processed. Or you can contact us ahead of time to find out the shipping charge to your country. Thanks.

HANDWRITTEN LETTER, written on both sides of a piece of 8.5x11 inch stationery bearing a "BLACK BEAR GOLD MINING CO." letterhead. The letter is dated Feb. 28, 1911, and was sent from SAWYERS BAR, (Siskiyou County, California). It was written by Mrs. M. E. Whiting / Sawyers Bar" and addressed to "Mrs. Clark", her sister. The letter begins: "Dear Sister".

The letter mentions the recent death of a sister, Sophronia (there is a marker on the Yreka Trail in Siskiyou County that reads: ""We are now out of the diggers and and in the Shasta Valley tribe (country) they are not so hostile - Sophronia Helen Stone, Sep 20, 1852".) I have no idea if the marker relates to the Sophornia in this letter, but as both the marker and the Sophronia in the letter are in Siskiyou County it is at least an interesting coincidence. The letter goes on to talk about the cold weather and other everyday matters. WHITING, the writer's surname, is also the surname of a number of miners in Siskiyou County at the time, and there was even a WHITING HILL MINE. I do not know exactly how M. E. Whiting relates, though the fact that the letter bears the letterhead of BLACK BEAR GOLD MINING CO. indicates some sort of relationship.

GOOD Condition: the letter has two horizontal and one vertical fold, likely folded to fit into an envelope (no envelope present); there are a few small holes (likely from the sharp tip of the pen), one fold is just starting to split, and the letter is lightly toned, otherwise bright and clear.

About SAWYERS BAR (from Wikipedia):

******Sawyers Bar is an unincorporated community located on the North Fork Salmon River in unincorporated Siskiyou County, California, not to be confused with a Sawyers or Lawyers Bar in Del Norte County.

Sawyers Bar, now in Siskiyou County, was a California Gold Rush mining camp, first in Trinity County (one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood). Then following the rush to the Klamath and Salmon Rivers, it became part of the now defunct Klamath County from 1851 to 1874. It was then within that part of Klamath County annexed to Siskiyou County. Sawyers Bar, was one of the largest gold producers in the county that year, along with Negro Flat, Gullion's Bar and Bestville. Currently, Sawyers Bar has a population of about 20 permanent residents and about 34 during the summer.******

Autograph Book of MARIE BEIDLEMAN of CERES, STANISLAUS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. Autograph Book, lacks covers, staple bound, 3.5x5.5 inches, 60 pages (30 leaves), 46 of the pages have inscriptions with signatures. The first inscription and signature is by the mother of Marie Beidleman and is dated June 7th, 1922. Most of the signatures / inscriptions seem to be from classmates from Ceres, California. Most have dates, beginning in 1923 with the last one being in 1926. Most have signed their full names, and a few put a place as CERES, CALIFORNIA. Marie Beidleman comes up as having been a student in CERES, CALIFORNIA. A quick Internet search found that some of the other names were also from kids in schools in CERES, CALIFORNIA. Names in this autograph / inscription book include: Helen Lander, Dolores Nelson, Bernice Madden, Adele Bisher, Margaret Nyquist, Ethel Baldridge, Dorothy Keith, Lois Ertle, Alice Ertle, Nancy Tupman, Hazel Buerer, Evelyn McQueen, and many more. Condition: Lacking covers as noted above, a few pages are toned from offsetting, light corner creases and other signs of handling, overall still bound well with writing that is clean, clear and fully legible.

FIRST BOOK IN HAWAIIAN - A TEXT BOOK IN THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE. By M.H. Atcherly [Mary H. Atcherly].

HONOLULU: Published for the Territory of Hawaii by the Hawaiian Board of Missions; printed by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 1930. First edition, as indicated by the date 1930 on the title page and at the end of the preface.

Hardcovers, 5.5x8 inches, 94 pages.

Though there were many dictionaries of and scholarly books on the Hawaiian language published prior to this work, this was the first book published in Hawaii exclusively as a school textbook for the teaching of the Hawaiian language to Hawaiian high school students.

GOOD condition, professionally rebacked making this a solid, well bound copy; the covers have some rubs, soiling, and light wear; internally, there are tiny holes to the gutter edge of the pages from an old sewn binding of the signatures (threads long gone, perfect binding holding well), the blank endpapers are toned and the text pages lightly so; overall, this is a complete, tight, bright, clean and unmarked copy.

From the Preface:

******The Legislature of the Territory of Hawaii in the session of 1923 passed Act 243, entitled "an act to provide for the preparation and publication of a school text book in the Hawaiian language." In pursuance of this act, Governor Lawrence M. Judd arranged with the Hawaiian Board of Missions for the publication of the manuscript which had been prepared by Mrs. Mary H. Atcherley. Other documents had been submitted, but it was felt that Mrs. Atcherley's contribution was better fitted for the purpose than similar studies.

It is intended that this First Book in Hawaiian shall be used in the junior high schools and high schools throughout the Territory, but it is hoped that other schools will make use of this material in acquiring a knowledge of the Hawaiian language.

Grateful acknowledgement is hereby made not only of the material submitted by Mrs. Atcherley but also suggestions from a similar work by Messrs. John Wise and F. E. Midkiff, of the Kamehameha Schools, and the work of the late Professor W. D. Alexander entitled, "A Short Synopsis of the Most Essential Points in Hawaiian Grammar." - HENRY P. JUDD, Editor, Hawaiian Board of Missions, Honolulu, February 1930.******

From the March 10, 1930 Honolulu Star-Bulletin, page 18:

******HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE BOOK IS PUBLISHED BY THE TERRITORY

Increased interest in the Hawaiian language is evident in the publication of a "First Book in Hawaiian" by authority of the legislature. The manuscript was prepared by Mrs. Mary H. Atcherley, and Governor Judd arranged for its publication with the Hawaiian board of missions.

The volume has just come off The Star-Bulletin press...The new volume is a textbook containing the elements of Hawaiian grammar and a limited vocabulary.*****

About MARY H. ATCHERLY (from Wikipedia):

******Mary Ha?aheo Atcherley (born Mary Ha'aheo Kinimaka, April 24, 1874 - March 8, 1933) was a Hawaiian activist. She was one of the first native Hawaiian women to run for public office in the Territory of Hawaii.****** You can read much more about her on her Wikipedia page.

ASBAREZ ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER. Published Weekly, Every Friday, in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. Entirely in ARMENIAN (with a bit of English titling on the First Page Publisher's Banner). A nice run of issues for the years 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1937, bound together. Approximately 200 weekly issues. The January 1934 issues and the February 2, 1934 issue (6 issues) are lacking, the first issue is February 9, 1934 and then the issues run consecutively through the December 31, 1937 issue. Please Note:

I have not counted every issue, but this is a weekly and unless a few are missing that I have not noticed, that would mean there are at least 200 issues. The issues are LARGE BROADSHEET FORMAT, with the pages measuring approximately 18x24 inches (46x61 cm). The issues have 4 pages. Therefore this bound set has approximately 800 large format pages. In the early 20th century, the FRESNO ARMENIAN community was the largest such community in California, and perhaps the entire U.S. These papers report on numerous issues of importance to Armenians, including International and California matters. CONDITION: The issues were bound in plain paper covers, but the covers are now completely missing with only a small remnant hanging on the rear, i.e. no covers. The spine covering has been mostly chipped off, but the titling remains. The newspapers are printed on fragile paper, and tear and shed easily. The last few pages are ragged with lots of tears, pieces missing, and creases, especially at their bottom halves; the first three issues are loose but present (Feb. 9, Feb. 16, Feb.23). Some issues have long tears across their center folds, but the issues are still complete. Most issues have some edge wear, including edge tears, chips, and general wear, but the text is almost always complete. The issues are age toned as normal. Nonetheless, most of the issues remain solid and are in generally good condition, especially given the fragile nature of the paper. The pages need to be opened and handled with care, even so expect some shedding. These newspaper issues were presumably bound together by the CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY. There are California State Library stamps here and there throughout. About the ASBAREZ ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER (from Wikipedia): ******The ASBAREZ ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER BEGAN PUBLICATION IN 1908 IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. In its early years the paper was published weekly. It eventually, decades later (1960s?), moved to Southern California when a large Armenian American community emerged there. ORIGINALLY AN ALL ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER, a regular English section was added in 1970.****** About ARMENIANS IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA (from Wikipedia): ******The first Armenians to move to Fresno were the brothers Hagop and Garabed Seropian, who arrived in 1881. By 1894 the Armenian population in Fresno was 360, a number which grew rapidly with the onset of the Hamidian Massacres in 1895-96. During and after the genocide even more Armenians came until the restrictions on immigration in 1921 and 1924 brought this to a virtual end. Los Angeles also became a focus of Armenian immigration, and some Armenians from Fresno moved there as well. The number of Armenians in LA surpassed those in Fresno in 1930, partly because of the agricultural depression in the valley during the 1920s. The early immigrants were primarily involved with farming and agriculture. By 1930 Armenians owned 40% of the raisin acreage in Fresno County. Bigotry against Armenians was common. Fear of Armenian land ownership caused the passage of laws restricting their rights to freely buy land. This attitude towards the tight knit Armenian community led some to try to assimilate, while having the opposite effect on others. Today, the number of Armenians in the greater Fresno region is thought to number approximately 25,000.****** INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: This collection of Armenian Language Newspapers is very large and very heavy and will require substantial additional shipping charges.

HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD, by EDWIN O. PALMER.

Published by Arthur H. Cawston, Hollywood, California, 1937. First Edition.

SIGNED and INSCRIBED by the AUTHOR on a blank prelim: "To my friend / Paul (?) / Edwin O. Palmer".

This is VOLUME I only of the first edition which was published in two volumes, a "Narrative" volume (this volume) and a volume of biographical sketches of notable people. This narrative volume gives a history of Hollywood from its early geologic period up to Hollywood's golden age in the 1930s. ILLUSTRATED throughout with many b&w photographic plates.

Hardcovers, dark brown cloth covered boards blind-embossed with designs, gilt titles on the front cover and spine, 8x11 inches, 292 pages.

VERY GOOD condition, the covers are lightly worn at the corners and spine ends, and the gilt spine lettering is faded, else the covers are solid and attractive; internally the pages are just lightly toned as normal, tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked; and all the plates are sharp. A solid, presentable copy.

The first edition is hard-to-find, especially so signed and inscribed. A second edition of this narrative volume was published in 1938.

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: This book is heavy and will require additional shipping charges. After placing your order you will be notified of the charges and be able to accept or reject them before payment is taken. Thanks!

1938 SAN FRANCISCO / OAKLAND CHINESE TELEPHONE DIRECTORY plus a CHINATOWN TELEPHONE EXCHANGE OFFICE Pamphlet.

The Telephone Directory is 6.5x9.5 inches, 34 pages. Entirely in Chinese except for the cover which has a Chinese and English title.

The Chinatown Telephone Office San Francisco is a single-fold four-page pamphlet, 3.75x5.75 inches.

Both the Telephone Directory and the laid-in booklet are in VERY GOOD condition, the Directory has some scrapes to the rear cover, otherwise both are just gently used, tight, bright, clean, clear and unmarked. Both are well preserved and very presentable.

About the CHINATOWN TELEPHONE OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO / the Chinatown Telephone Exchange (excerpts from various Internet sites):

******At the turn of the 20th century, as more and more homes and businesses began utilizing telephones, an issue arose in San Francisco. The white operators tasked with connecting calls around the city were struggling to understand the residents of Chinatown. Not only was this a source of frustration for the operators, it meant that the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company was failing an entire population of the city.

The phone company solved this problem by giving Chinatown its very own telephone exchange and dedicated set of operators. Not only did these operators need to memorize hundreds - and later thousands - of local phone numbers (and who they belonged to), they needed to do so in several different dialects. What's more, while each phone in San Francisco was being used roughly four times a day, the phones of Chinatown were a lot more active - used, on average, eight times a day.

The Chinese Telephone Exchange's switchboard operators, with their exceptional memory skills, quickly became a point of public fascination. For decades, spectators would frequently stop outside the Chinatown building's windows to watch the operators working. The exchange finally closed down in 1949, as more and more people installed phones that could be self-dialed at home. But for many, the fascination with this most unusual operation has persisted.******

ASBAREZ ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER. Published Weekly, Every Friday, in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. Entirely in ARMENIAN (with a bit of English titling on the First Page Publisher's Banner), FULL RUN FOR THE YEARS 1938, 1939, 1940, bound together. Approximately 156 weekly issues, beginning with the January 7, 1938 issue and ending with the December 27, 1940 issue. Please Note:

I have not counted every issue, but this is a weekly and unless a few are missing (which I haven't noticed but certainly is possible) that would mean there are 156 issues. The issues are LARGE BROADSHEET FORMAT, with the pages measuring approximately 18x24 inches (46x61 cm). The issues have 4 pages. Therefore this bound set has over 600 large format pages. In the early 20th century, the FRESNO ARMENIAN community was the largest such community in California, and perhaps the entire U.S. It was often referred to as Little Armenia. These papers report on numerous issues of importance to Armenians, including International and California matters. CONDITION: The issues are bound in plain paper covers. The plain paper covers are made of very cheap paper and are in poor condition, with lots of tears, holes, pieces missing, shedding and general wear. The newspapers are printed on fragile paper. The first page of the first issue has a large piece missing, a number of issues have large tears across their center folds but are still complete, there are edge tears, chips, and wear here and there throughout, and the issues have the expected age toning; nonetheless the bound in NEWSPAPERS are in generally good and complete condition, especially given the fragile nature of the paper. The pages need to be opened and handled with care, even so expect some shedding. These newspaper issues were presumably bound together by the CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY. There is a Bookplate of the California State Library on the inside front cover, and there are California State Library stamps here and there throughout. About the ASBAREZ ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER (from Wikipedia): ******The ASBAREZ ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER BEGAN PUBLICATION IN 1908 IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. In its early years the paper was published weekly. It eventually, decades later (1960s?), moved to Southern California when a large Armenian American community emerged there. ORIGINALLY AN ALL ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER, a regular English section was added in 1970.****** About ARMENIANS IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA (from Wikipedia): ******The first Armenians to move to Fresno were the brothers Hagop and Garabed Seropian, who arrived in 1881. By 1894 the Armenian population in Fresno was 360, a number which grew rapidly with the onset of the Hamidian Massacres in 1895 and 1896. During and after the genocide even more Armenians came until the restrictions on immigration in 1921 and 1924 brought this to a virtual end. Los Angeles also became a focus of Armenian immigration, and some Armenians from Fresno moved there as well. The early immigrants were primarily involved with farming and agriculture, with the ultimate goal almost always that of land ownership. By 1930 Armenians owned 40% of the raisin acreage in Fresno County. They were pioneers in the melon and fig production as well. Bigotry against Armenians was common, and led many to Anglicize their names. In the 1890s Armenian Protestants were stripped of membership in local churches. Fear of Armenian land ownership caused the passage of laws restricting their rights to freely buy land. This attitude towards the tight knit Armenian community led some to try to assimilate, while having the opposite effect on others. Today, the number of Armenians in the greater Fresno region is thought to number approximately 25,000.****** INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: This collection of Armenian Language Newspapers is very large and very heavy and will require substantial additional shipping charges.

ASBAREZ ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER. Published TWICE Weekly, Every Tuesday and Friday, in FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. Entirely in ARMENIAN (with a bit of English titling on the First Page Publisher's Banner), FULL RUN FOR THE YEARS 1950 and 1951, bound together. Approximately 208 twice weekly issues, beginning with the January 3, 1950 issue and ending with the December 25, 1951 issue (Armenians celebrate Christmas on January 6). Please Note:

I have not counted every issue, but this is a weekly and unless a few are missing (which I haven't noticed but certainly is possible) that would mean there are 208 issues. The issues are LARGE BROADSHEET FORMAT, with the pages measuring approximately 15x22 inches (38x55 cm). The issues have 4 pages. Therefore this bound set has over 800 large format pages. In the early 20th century, the FRESNO ARMENIAN community was the largest such community in California, and perhaps the entire U.S. Later in the 20th Century Los Angeles hosted a larger Armenian community, with many Fresno Armenians moving south as a result of an agricultural depression. These papers report on numerous issues of importance to Armenians, including International and California matters. CONDITION: The issues are bound in plain paper covers. The plain paper covers are made of cheap paper and are in somewhat ragged condition, with tears, pieces missing, shedding and general wear. The newspapers are printed on fragile paper and there edge tears, chips, and wear here and there, some tearing along the center folds, and age toning, nonetheless all the bound in NEWSPAPERS are in generally good condition, looking as if they have been infrequently used (the fragile covers possibly being worn and torn when this heavy bound set of newspapers was moved!) These newspaper issues were presumably bound together by the CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY. There is a Bookplate of the California State Library on the inside front cover, and there are California State Library stamps here and there throughout. About the ASBAREZ ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER (from Wikipedia): ******The ASBAREZ ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER BEGAN PUBLICATION IN 1908 IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. In its early years the paper was published weekly. It eventually, decades later (1960s?), moved to Southern California when a large Armenian American community emerged there. ORIGINALLY AN ALL ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER, a regular English section was added in 1970.****** About ARMENIANS IN FRESNO, CALIFORNIA (from Wikipedia): ******The first Armenians to move to Fresno were the brothers Hagop and Garabed Seropian, who arrived in 1881. By 1894 the Armenian population in Fresno was 360, a number which grew rapidly with the onset of the Hamidian Massacres in 1895 and 1896. During and after the genocide even more Armenians came until the restrictions on immigration in 1921 and 1924 brought this to a virtual end. Los Angeles also became a focus of Armenian immigration, and some Armenians from Fresno moved there as well. The number of Armenians in LA surpassed those in Fresno in 1930, partly because of the agricultural depression in the valley during the 1920s. The early immigrants were primarily involved with farming and agriculture. By 1930 Armenians owned 40% of the raisin acreage in Fresno County. Bigotry against Armenians was common. Fear of Armenian land ownership caused the passage of laws restricting their rights to freely buy land. This attitude towards the tight knit Armenian community led some to try to assimilate, while having the opposite effect on others. Today, the number of Armenians in the greater Fresno region is thought to number approximately 25,000.****** INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE: This collection of Armenian Language Newspapers is very large and very heavy and will require substantial additional shipping charges.

1945 LETTER to MARQUISE HELENE DE PINS, PARIS, FRANCE, from RAYMOND ARMSBY, Mutual Life Insurance Company, San Francisco.

The Marquise Helene de Pins was a French Aristocrat who inherited the BEAULIEU VINEYARDS of Rutherford, NAPA VALLEY.

Raymond Armsby was a San Francisco socialite, Member of the BOHEMIAN CLUB, and, at the time, an Insurance agent for the rich and famous.

Single Page Typed Letter, Signed by Armsby, on Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York stationery. The letter is dated May 20, 1954. The letter comes with its original mailing envelope.

In the letter Armsby suggests to Marquise de Pins that her property (i.e. wines) stored in an expensive to insure Champagne Cellar be moved to one of the buildings on her Vineyards where FIRE INSURANCE rates would be less expensive, implying that the$30,000 in insurance she currently held should be returned to a $50,000 level. From the letter: "...you desired only to insure the personal property stored in the Champagne Cellar for $30,000...It is unfortunate...that the property was moved from San Francisco for storage in a building on which the Fire Rating Bureau had placed such a high premium rate...I suggest you look over your buildings at the Vineyards, indicate to me the one in which you wish to place the property...a building with a low fire rate..."

Condition: The letter has several folds from where it was folded to fit into a small envelope, and some corner tip creases. Overall the letter is tight, bright, clean. The envelope is well used, lots of postal stamps, a forwarding label, and wear from being opened, but still clearly shows the return address and the name of Marquise Helene de Pins.

About the Marquise Helene de Pins, aka Madame de Pins, and the Beaulieu Vineyards (from Wikipedia):

******Marquise Helene de Pins, the widow of the Marquis de Pins and daughter of the late Georges de Latour, who founded Beaulieu Vineyard in 1900 after immigrating to the United States from the Perigord region of southern France, inherited the Beaulieu Vineyards after the death of her husband.

In the 1950s and 1960s Beaulieu was considered one of the Big Four Napa Valley producers, along with Inglenook, Charles Krug, and Louis Martini.

The winery was purchased by international conglomerate Heublein in 1969. Heublein was later acquired by RJR Nabisco, then sold to Grand Metropolitan in 1987. Grand Metropolitan became Diageo plc in 1997 through a merger with Guinness. In 2016 Diageo sold Beaulieu Vineyard to Treasury Wine Estates.******