WARRE, Henry James (1819-1898). Album of pencil and watercolor views, signed ("H. J. Warre, July 1881 San Francisco.") on the front pastedown, San Francisco, Belmont, Yosemite, Niagara Falls, Uxbridge, Derbyshire, Cumberland and other locales, July 1881- 1884.

29 leaves, 175 x 255mm, with an additional 137 x 219mm loose leaf within, with a total of 24 views (minor foxing to versos of some leaves, several leaves loose). Contemporary half black morocco boards, paper label, "California & Untied States 1881 Cumberland England" (spine cracked, rubbing to extremities).

Artist and soldier Henry J. Warre's sketchbook from his 1881 journey eastward across the United States including views of Angel Falls in Yosemite and the Mariposa Giant Sequoias. Most of the views are dated and captioned in pencil by Warre. Warre is best known for his magnificent color plate book, Sketches in North America and the Oregon Territory (1848), based on the paintings he rendered on the spot during an 1845 scouting mission with Mervin Vavasour. They were scouting the Oregon Country during the Anglo-American dispute over the status of the territory. Warre went on to enjoy an accomplished military career, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-General in charge of the Bombay Army. He retired from the service while still in India in 1881 and returned home via Singapore, Shanghai, Japan and then on to San Francisco where he remained throughout July. In early August he travelled eastward stopping in Salt Lake City, Chicago, Niagara, Toronto, Montreal and New York before sailing for England in late August. Warre's California views date from 1 - 25 July 1881, opening with a bucolic view of the countryside near Belmont, California (1 July), a view of the countryside near the country home of former California Senator William Sharon (who had also recently retired). Warre then moved on to the Yosemite valley where he accomplished views of Angel Falls, Mirror Lake and the Mariposa Giant Sequoias. Between California and Niagara, he took only one view, that of the landscape near Cheyenne, Wyoming where the Union Pacific Railroad reached 8,800 feet. By 8 August he reached Niagara Falls, producing three views. By early August he had travelled far to the east, making several views of Niagara Falls. By September he was back in England where he continued producing views of country scenes as he encountered them. Of a total of 24 views, 14 were rendered in America. Provenance: Henry J. Warre (ownership signature).