Gypsies; or, Why We Went Gypsying in the Sierras, Dio Lewis, 1881 | First Edition, 30 Engravings

Gypsies; or, Why We Went Gypsying in the Sierras by Dio Lewis was published in 1881, detailing the travels and experiences of the homeopathic doctor during his 3-year ramble around California and the surrounding regions. After spending 30 years as a physician, temperance crusader, and exercise advocate, Lewis claimed that there was nothing so restorative as the nomadic camp life that he pursued around Yosemite Valley.  Lewis’s approach is informal and direct, often weaving personal observations with remarks on the environment and company he kept during the trip. He tells of encountering Mormons, Indians, and redwood loggers, hunting grizzlies, and experiencing earthquakes, among numerous other anecdotes. This first edition was published in Boston by the Eastern Book Company.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Gypsies; or, Why We Went Gypsying in the Sierras
• Author: Dio Lewis
• Publisher: Boston, Eastern Book Company
• Edition: First Edition, 1881
• Binding: Hardcover
• Format: Octavo (8vo), single volume
• Size: ~7.75 in x 5.75 in (19.5 cm x 14.5 cm)
• Collation: [2], 416
• Illustrations: 30 engravings, including portrait frontispiece
• Contents Include:
  • Gypsying Begins
  • Discovery of the Yo Semite Valley
  • Encounters with Miners and Travelers
  • Digger Indians and An Indian Doctor
  • A Word about Tobacco
• Provenance: Bookplate of D. H. Burger on front pastedown

Condition:

Very Good. Bound in original decorative cloth, the spine and hinges are secure. Boards show slight rubbing, especially to the corners. Internally, the pages are clean with mild age toning and occasional light foxing. Engravings are clear and intact.

Why Collect This?

• First edition of a 19th-century American travel narrative
• Written by health reform and temperance advocate Dio Lewis
• 30 engravings
• Relevant to collectors interested in Sierra Nevada accounts or postbellum travel

Item Number: # 31076