Presented in this lot is a 1911 First Edition of "Mountains Of California" by John Muir, publisher The Century Company, New York. John Muir, also known as "John of the Mountains" and "Father of the National Parks”, was an influential Scottish-American naturalist, environmental philosopher, and an early advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the United States. One of the heroes of America's conservation movement, Muir deserves much of the credit for making the Yosemite Valley a protected national park and for alerting Americans to the need to protect this and other natural wonders. "The Mountains of California Illustrated From Preliminary Sketches And Photographs Furnished By The Author New and Enlarged Edition" was Muir’s first book and is his tribute to the beauties of the Sierras. He recounts not only his own journeys by foot through the mountains, glaciers, forests, and valleys, but also the geological and natural history of the region, ranging from the history of glaciers, the patterns of tree growth, and the daily life of animals and insects. "The Mountains of California" naturally focuses on Yosemite, while Muir expounds on lesser well-known beauty spots of the majestic Western mountains of California, while also including illustrations of the Oregon and Washington Cascade ranges and British Columbia, Canada including: Kings Canyon, Sequoia groves, Mount Whitney, Mount Shasta, Mount Hood, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, And more! The book contains numerous maps and illustrations. The olive green coloured clothbound gold stamped cover and spine features the front cover with a gold gilt mountain scene, the sun rising behind a mountain range, the image framed by a wreath of fir branches and pine cones. The spine has stamped images of gold gilt pine cones on either side of a stamped gold gilt big horn ram. It is in very nice condition, slight scuffing noted to cover edges. Intact pages have gold gilt top edge, fore and bottom edge are deckled. Age tanning and very slight foxing observed. Measures 5.5"W x 7.75"L x 1.25"D, approximate weight 1lb, 12oz.