HISTORY OF CRIPPLE CREEK. AMERICA'S MOST FAMOUS GOLD CAMP

Denver: W.C. Calhoun, 1896.. 50pp., including double-page map and photographic illustrations. Original pictorial wrappers. Wrappers somewhat soiled and creased, neatly mended along the spine. Faint vertical crease throughout, otherwise internally clean. Very good overall. A rare, thoroughly illustrated promotional for Cripple Creek, Colorado, issued at the height of its meteoric rise as one of the most successful gold mining regions in the United States. Gold was discovered at Cripple Creek in 1891, and by 1900 it had become the most productive gold mine in the country, remaining so for the next twenty years. Though its population fell dramatically into the 1920s and 30s (down to about 400 in 1970), the district has seen a minor resurgence as a casino destination after gambling was legalized in 1991. While supposedly authored by a "George Daniel," the present pamphlet is primarily the brainchild of prolific Denver journalist and publisher W.C. Calhoun. Calhoun, whose portrait appears inside multiple times and who was billed by the Denver Daily Times as "probably the most extensive general advertiser in the West," was publisher of both the Denver Sentinel and Illustrated Weekly papers, and was said to advertise his papers, various products of all sort, and the West in general, in more than 1000 publications as of 1896. The present pamphlet, though described as a history, is in reality a promotional for the fast-growing mining region. After presenting a smattering of legends about the region's naming and founding, the author progresses to a florid description of the successful gold mines in the region and their output, with repeated assurances of their continued productivity. He goes on to briefly describe nearby settlements including Victor and West Creek, lode mining efforts and the "cyanide process" for extracting gold, and the current state of specific mines such as the Anaconda and Independence. The booklet is extensively illustrated with photographic reproductions throughout, including images of crowds of people at Cripple Creek, an aerial view of Anaconda, and exterior views of various mines and settlements. The two-page map, dated March 1st, 1896, is titled "New Topographical Map of the Cripple Creek District" and depicts town plans, railways, mining shafts, and tunnels, as well as nearby mountain peaks labeled with elevations. The author notes that "It will be an easy matter to lift the staples and take out the map, should it be desired, to place upon the wall," though thankfully that was never done with this copy. True to form, the wrappers advertise a plethora of other products published or supported by Calhoun, such as his printing office, petrified wood samples from Florissant, other books including a guide for writing love letters and, apparently, an offer of free gold rings set with "gems of the Rockies." While this publication is billed as "Vol. I. No. 2" of The Quarterly Sentinel, it appears that number one was an earlier printing of a nearly identical pamphlet and subsequent years do not appear to have filled out their runs, though a handful more were produced, including "Colorado's Gold Fields" (Vol II No. 1) and "Alaska's Gold Fields" (Vol. II No. 3). A rare promotional from the halcyon days of this major Colorado mining district. LINGENFELTER CO:1553. WYNAR 1417. OCLC 11420283, 732795181. (Inventory #: WRCAM62432)