Borthwick, a Scotsman visiting New York, was struck with gold fever in May, 1851, and set off for California via the Isthmus. He spent three years wandering through the mining camps, and his observations and attention to detail make this one of the most important and acclaimed Gold Rush narratives. Cowan notes that "His book presents a faithful graphic picture of his mining experiences and of conditions at this time." An accomplished artist, Borthwick did the drawings from which the striking lithographs were made. Cowan p.65; Graff 358; Howes B622; Kurutz 65a; Sabin 6436; Streeter 2817; Wheat Gold Rush 21; Zamorano 80 #8.