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John Muir

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
John Muir

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Auction Date:2018 Apr 11 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Fascinating archive of material documenting John Muir’s appointment and management of the Contra Costa County estate of his close friend and father-in-law, Dr. John Strentzel, a Polish-born physician who gained fame as a pioneer in the area of experimental California horticulture. Dated between 1868 and 1892, the collection features numerous legal documents relating to Muir’s role as administrator of Strentzel’s sprawling Martinez, California estate, with two documents signed by Muir, two signed by Strentzel, and several more signed by either Strentzel’s daughter, Louie Strentzel Muir, or his widow, Louisiana Strentzel. Highlights include: a Superior Court of Contra Costa County legal document signed three times by Muir, one page both sides, 8 x 13, September 6, 1892, which concerns the estate sale of “1 steer,” “cattle (120 head),” “5 head cattle,” “bull,” “3 calves,” “31 cattle,” and “1 horse,” for a sum of $2,284.20, with Muir signing once on the front, “John Muir, Administrator,” and twice on the reverse; and a Superior Court of Contra Costa County legal document signed twice by Muir, one page both sides, 8.25 x 14, June 17, 1892, which concerns a creditor’s claim affirming that John Larkey owes to the estate of John Strentzel a total of $2,877.69, with Muir signing twice on the reverse, as do Louie and Louisiana Strentzel. Also included are two legal documents signed by Strentzel, “J. Strentzel,” dated June 6 and 8, 1868, both relating to land transactions.

The balance of the archive consists of a wealth of legal documents, manuscript and partly printed, such as payments and appraisals, claims, promissory notes, lot distribution, creditor notices published in the Contra Costa Semi-Weekly Gazette, a survey of Strentzel’s land on the San Pablo Bay, a list of funds dated between December 1890 and August 1892, and other documents related to Muir’s appointment as estate administrator, in particular his petition to receive said letters of administration and the sale of certain estate properties. In overall very good to fine condition. In 1880, Muir married Louisa Strentzel, the daughter of Muir's good friend and companion, John Strentzel. When Strentzel passed away in October 1890, Muir and Louisa moved into the late doctor's 10,000 square foot home in Martinez, California, which is now preserved by the National Park Service as the John Muir National Historic Site. A hugely informative archive relating to Muir's immense pastoral inheritance.