Portsmouth Plaza: The Cradle of San Francisco (previously owned by former Secretary of Treasury Ogden L. Mills)

Catherine Coffin Phillips

Published by Printed by John Henry Nash, San Francisco, 1932

About this Item

First Edition (SD, there's a tipped-in Erratum between the first and second rear end papers, only one error being corrected). This book was previously owned by the former Secretary of Treasury under Herbert Hoover, Ogden L. Mills. Mr. Mills was the Republican nominee in the 1926 New York gubernatorial election, losing to Al Smith. A Milton H. Esberg inscribed the book on the first front end paper ( 'To my dear friend Ogden L. Mills. In affection and devotion, Milton H. Esberg, At Christmas, 1936'). Mr. Esberg was a prominent business and civic leader in California. You can read a little bit about him at the end of the listing. As you can see from the photos, the covers are in pretty nice condition. There is one very small water stain off the front bottom edge just adjacent to the spine. The bottom edge of the spine has some wrinkling, the top edge just a tiny dent. The gilt lettering on the spine is not worn (see second photo). The edges are in pretty nice shape, there is a 3/4 inch spot of rub-through at the rear top edge. The middle and bottom page edges are deckled or rough-cut. The top page edge is very clean. The book is square and, very importantly, solidly bound from cover to cover. The pages are pretty tight. The covers are tight as well. There are no cracks or spaces to be found between any the facing pages or between the covers and any of the pages. No small matter with a quite thick and heavy 464 page book. The interior of the book is in very nice shape. It really has only one flaw. The water stain from the covers can be seen a little bit above the bottom edge of some of the pages, disappearing entirely as you approach page 300. It is far from the print. The pages are otherwise exceptionally clean. In fact I didn't see any other soiling as I scrolled through. The pages are also in excellent condition. I didn't see any conspicuous creasing, no turned-down corners or placeholder creases. There are no markings. No attachments. And with the exception of the aforementioned signed inscription, no one has written their name or anything else anywhere in the book. There are a great many illustrations throughout and they all appear to be in perfect condition. Milton Herman Esberg was born in 1875 San Francisco. He was educated at the University Of California. He became a prominent business and civic leader in the state. He was a patron member of the Board of Directors of the California Historical Society. He was one of the founders of the San Francisco Community Chest and of the Opera Association of San Francisco. He was a director of the Opera Association, the Musical Association of San Francisco and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He had been decorated as a Cavaliere of the Crown of Italy and was a member of the Bohemian, Family and Olympic clubs. Beside being the Secretary Treasury under Herbert Hoover, Ogden L. Mills 'represented New York in the United States House of Representatives, served as Undersecretary of the Treasury during the administration of President Calvin Coolidge.'. Seller Inventory # 003467

Bibliographic Details

Title: Portsmouth Plaza: The Cradle of San ...

Publisher: Printed by John Henry Nash, San Francisco

Publication Date: 1932

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Edition: 1st Edition