Any one here read Bowers: California Gold Rush History?

Lakesammman

Is it worth the price (somewhere around $3-400)??

Pistareen

Believe it or not, the book cost more than that to produce.

If this book had a better index, it would be worth twice that -- it is an amazing work. Unfortunately, its size and its limiting index make it tough to use as an historical narrative. Several hours spent reading it, figuring out what goes where, and doing a mental summary pays dividends. Its images, including all of the SS Central American ingots, make it pretty much a mandatory inclusion in a private/territorial gold library.

Somewhere I still have a typescript for it (or a version of it) in a file drawer.

Broadstruck

Lakesammman, Have you checked to see if the ANA Library has it available for loan

Res

Cheapest Amazon seller has it used for $190. Don't know if that makes a difference or not.

RollSearcher

Lakesammman - I did enjoy it, but I was thinking of trying to sell my copy on Ebay to make some room on the bookshelf. As others have said, it is HUGE and has A LOT of information. I read bits and pieces at a time (and probably only actually read about half of it). If you are interested, PM me. I'll let it go for FAR less than the prices online.

RYK

I am afraid of it. It's too heavy. Pistareen has previously informed me of at least one documented injury from someone trying to read it.

If you want, I will throw it in a backpack when I come to Seattle this summer. I will make the boy carry the backpack.

MilkmanDan

Yeah, I purchased this one not knowing how gigantic and heavy it is - it's a bear to read. I've skimmed parts but I'm not sure when I'll have the time to sit down and thoroughly go through it. Maybe retirement in 20-30 years? I will hold onto it if I can since I don't believe there will be more copies made.

Also note, there are two different editions, one is a special edition that apparently came with some actual shipwreck gold (I was told). That one costs bank.

Edit: I never answered the OP question. It's good reading and is very, very detailed. You need to be really interested in the subject matter but if you are, it's pretty exciting stuff.

TONEDDOLLARS

I have read it and enjoyed it very much. I will say it took quite some time to read, but well worth it.

tresgatos

I had mine less than a week before pages started falling out. Great book otherwise.

firstmint

It's a powerhouse of information. The book is big, and weighs a lot (over 10 pounds) but is useful to both numismatists and historians in numerous ways.

While many of the SS Central America gold ingots are illustrated in color, not all of the recovered ingots are illustrated. That's a good thing, or else there would be even more pages.

Regular editions with black covers have sold around the $200 mark, while the deluxe version (with red covers, and has gold samples inside the front cover) have sold for thousands of dollars, since they were never offered retail, but were free to those who purchased expensive gold ingots from the SSCA wreck. Only 400 deluxe copies were produced.

This is Dave Bowers' masterpiece from 2002, and if one actually sits down, opens the book and reads through it, they will learn an awful lot of interesting American history.

CaptHenway

I have read every word in it.....Dave sent me a copy of the manuscript for review and copy editing. He then graciously sent me a copy of the finished book.

The stories of how people made the trek are incredible. As a history, it is fantastic. There is a ton of stuff in there I never knew before.

TD

Lakesammman

Looking forward to reading it - have a few leads after posting this - thanks!