Consignments to El Dorado: A Record of the Voyage of the Sutton

By Thomas Whaley
Compiled and edited by June Allen Reading
New York: Exposition Press, 1971

Description

Experience the Gold Rush through the eyes of Thomas Whaley in this rare, first edition book documenting his 15,000-mile, 240-day voyage to California aboard the Sutton in 1849.

Unlike most gold-seekers, the 24-year-old Whaley—a versatile businessman from a prominent New York family—traveled to California to establish a mercantile business rather than mine for gold. This fascinating volume offers a vivid, firsthand account of:

• Life aboard a sailing vessel in the mid-19th century

• The maritime journey around Cape Horn

• Stops in Rio de Janeiro and Valparaiso

• Daily activities, celebrations, and challenges at sea

• Business prospects and economic observations in Gold Rush-era San Francisco

Highlights include:

• Original journal entries and personal letters

• A comprehensive introduction by editor June Allen Reading

• Detailed family history and contextual notes

• Appendices, bibliography, illustrations, index, and additional notes

Whaley's story follows his eventual settlement in San Diego, where he built one of Southern California's most elegant homes (now the Whaley House Museum) and became a prominent civic leader.

Condition: Unused original copies from the sole 1971 printing—true "new old stock"

Perfect for collectors of:

• California history

• Gold Rush memorabilia

• Maritime literature

• 19th-century travel narratives

• Whaley House enthusiasts