[4], xii, 13-496 pp. Illustrated with 28 (of 29) total inserted plates (all but 1 photographic), including: frontispiece photo-type by Gutekunst, portrait of Hutchings from a photograph by Houseworth, 20 phototypos by Britton & Rey from photographs by Isaiah Taber, George Fiske and others, 1 (of 2) artotypes by E. Bierstadt, 1 heliotype by Heliotype Ptg. Co., 1 red plate of a snow plant; and 3 wood-engraved plates; 2 maps (1 folding lithograph and 1 full-page); plus numerous wood engravings and photos within the text. 8½x5¾, original full turkey morocco, decoratively blind-stamped, lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, inner gilt dentelles, hinges reinforced with green cloth, all edges gilt. First Edition, First Printing, publisher's deluxe binding.

First printing, with the readings in the table of contents corresponding with those listed by Currey & Kruska. Accepted first issue, matching all the required points, including: frontispiece phototype by Gutekunst depicting no one seated behind the horse and a cabin without a lean-to; portrait of Hutchings is a "photo-typo" by Britton & Rey; the plate of Hutchings' Old Cabin is reproduced by the Heliotype Ptg. Co. of Boston; however, only one artotype printed by E. Bierstadt (apparently lacking the plate that should face p. [470], but no evidence of removal or of it ever having been inserted by the publisher). The folding lithograph map is printed by Britton & Rey. The author, J.M. Hutchings (1820-1902), a pioneer of the tourist industry in Yosemite and one of the first to visit there in winter, was Guardian to the Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove between 1880 and 1884. According to Farquhar, In the Heart of the Sierras was Hutchings' crown publishing achievement and "...contains a great deal more...than an account of Hutchings' personal experiences; it covers more fully than any other work of its day every aspect of Yosemite Valley and the Big Trees that could by considered of general interest to visitors." Cowan p.299; Currey & Kruska 175; Farquhar 18a.