Sketches of Travels in South America, Mexico, and California

New York: James Egbert, 1860. First Edition. Small 8vo, original blind-stamped brown cloth, spine lettered in gilt, 247 pp. Spine a bit faded, light edge wear, small stain on rear pastedown; otherwise near fine. Schaeffer left New York in March 1849, and sailed across the horn to San Francisco. According to Kurutz, Schaeffer originally contributed these sketches to a religious newspaper under the pen name "Quartz", and goes on to state that "Shaeffer's book received praise of many for providing a congenial, yet uninflated account of his three years in California." Cowan mentions that "nearly the entire work is devoted to California." The book also includes an account of the "Gold Lake" expedition and digging.