Gold Rush Collection (#16)

GOLD MINERS, 1859. Exploring a cavern in the Sierra Nevada, California: wood engraving from an American newspaper

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1849. Gold miners in camp in the Sacramento Valley, California, 1849. Wood engraving from a contemporary English newspaper

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1860. Interior of tunnel. Wood engraving, American, 1860

EDWARD HAMMON HARGRAVES (1816-1891). Australian gold prospector. Wood engraving, 1852

JAMES WILSON MARSHALL (1810-1885). American carpenter and gold miner. Discoverer of gold at Sutters Mill in Coloma, California, which started the famous gold rush of 1849. Line engraving, 1891

SAN FRANCISCO BAY, 1849. The bay of San Francisco filled with boats in 1849, the first year of the gold rush. Wood engraving, 1849

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1855. Advertisement for a Boston, Massachusetts, jeweler from an American newspaper of 1855, depicting a California gold miner

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1852. A California Forty-niner. Wood engraving, American, 1852

GOLD MINERS, 1858. Prospectors at San Francisco waiting for ships to take them to the supposedly gold-laden Fraser River, British Columbia, in 1858. Contemporary line engraving

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1849. Gold miners at work near their camp in the San Joaquin Valley, c1849. Wood engraving, American, 19th century

GOLD RUSH, 1853. A California miner rejoicing over his discovery of gold: engraving from a poem, The Miners Progress
GOLD RUSH, 1853. A California miner rejoicing over his discovery of gold: engraving from a poem, " The Miners Progress, or Scenes in the Life of California, " published at Sacramento in 1853

SACRAMENTO, 1849. A view of Sacramento, California, with its streets full of prospectors drawn by the discovery of gold the year before. Steel engraving, 1850, after a drawing of 1849

GOLD MINERS, 16th CENTURY. Workers mining gold in a European village in the 16th century: contemporary engraving

SAN FRANCISCO, 1850. Gold seekers living in tents and a harbor filled with empty ships during the California gold rush. Line engraving, 1850

CALIFORNIA GOLD DIGGERS. Wood engraving, American, 1856

GOLD RUSH CARTOON, 1853. The Pilgrim rejoiceth over his Pile. A California miner rejoicing over his discovery of gold
GOLD RUSH CARTOON, 1853. The Pilgrim rejoiceth over his " Pile." A California miner rejoicing over his discovery of gold

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1860. Gold miners camping on the Stanislaus River in California. Wood engraving, 1860

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1852. Scene at a mining camp during the California Gold Rush. Wood engraving, American, 1852

CHINESE TONG WAR, 1854. Chinese immigrant gold miners battling in the Weaverville Tong War, in northern California, 1854. Wood engraving, 19th century

WEAVERVILLE TONG WAR, 1854. Chinese immigrant gold miners battling in the Weaverville Tong War, in northern California, 1854. Wood engraving, 19th century

GOLD RUSH CARTOON. Cartoon, 19th century, to illustrate a poem, We Miss Thee, Ladies, written by lonely gold miners in San Francisco, California

AUSTRALIAN GOLD RUSH, 1852. The gold diggings at Ballarat, Australia. Wood engraving from an English newspaper of 1852

AUSTRALIAN GOLD RUSH, 1852. Transportaing gold at Ballarat, Australia. Wood engraving from an English newspaper of 1852

AUSTRALIAN GOLD RUSH, 1851. Gold seekers arriving at Bathurst, Australia, on their way to Ophir. Wood engraving from an English newspaper of 1851

AUSTRALIAN GOLD RUSH, 1853. Scene from the gold fields of Australia. Wood engraving, American, 1853

GOLD MINING, 1853. Washing for gold in the Sierra foothills of California, 1853. Wood engraving, American, 19th century

GOLD MINING CAMP, 1853. Gold miners washing their clothes in a river. Wood engraving, American, 1853

CHINESE MINER CAMP, 1857. Chinese miners in their camp during the California Gold Rush. Wood engraving, 1857

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1859. Gold miners exploring a cavern in the Sierra Nevada, California. Wood engraving from an American newspaper of 1859

CALIFORNIA GOLD MINER, 1850. A miner in California during the Gold Rush. Line engraving, late 19th century, after a sketch of 1850

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1852. A Chinaman en route for the mines. Wood engraving, 1852

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1849. Washing for gold. Wood engraving, American, 1849

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1853. Forty-niners in California weighing their gold. Wood engraving, American, 1853

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1856. California gold miners. Wood engraving from an American newspaper of 1856

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1850. Seeing the Elephant. Popular engraved lettersheet depicting scenes of life during the California Gold Rush, published at San Francisco, California, c1850

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1860. Panning for gold on the Mokelumne River in California. Wood engraving, 1860

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1860. A gold miner using a cradle rocker on the Stanislaus River in California. Wood engraving, 1860

GOLD MINERS. Bank note, engraving, c. 1870

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1852. Miners prospecting for gold during the California Gold Rush. Wood engraving, 1852

GOLD RUSH: CALIFORNIA. A Forty-Niner. Wood engraving, American, 1853

GOLD PROSPECTORS, c1876. To the Black Hills, or Bust. Gold prospectors departing Denver, Colorado, for the Black Hills of South Dakota. Color engraving, 1876

GOLD RUSH. Forty-Niners in California weighing their gold. Wood engraving, American, 1853

WASHING FOR GOLD, 1849. Washing for gold in California. Color engraving, 1849

CHINESE MINERS, 1849. A Chinese immigrant en route to the mines during the California Gold Rush of 1849. Contemporary American engraving

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH. Miners washing gold in California. Wood engraving, 19th century

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH, 1849. Miners washing gold in California during the early days of the Gold Rush. Wood engraving, 1849

MELBOURNE: GOLD NUGGET. Exhibition of a 42lb nugget of gold, at Melbourne, extracted during the Australian Gold Rush of 1851: wood engraving from an English newspaper

AUSTRALIAN GOLD RUSH, 1851. Fitzroy Bar, Ophir, at the junction of the two creeks. Wood engraving from an English newspaper of 1851

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The gold rush phenomenon captivated people around the world, from Australian Gold Rush prospectors in the 1850s to Leadville, a Colorado boom town in the 1870s. The allure of striking it rich drew countless individuals to venture into uncharted territories, hoping to uncover precious nuggets and change their lives forever. In California, where dreams were made and shattered alike, lithographs by Currier & Ives immortalized the chaotic scenes of gold mining in 1871. West Coast towns like Jacksonville in Oregon became bustling hubs as fortune seekers flocked to these promising lands. Even Hollywood couldn't resist the charm of this historical event. In Charlie Chaplin's iconic film "The Gold Rush" from 1925, he humorously portrayed a prospector resorting to eating his own shoe out of desperation - a comical representation of the lengths people would go for that elusive treasure. Sutters Mill holds significant importance as it marks the site where California's first gold discovery took place. It was here that James Marshall stood proudly before Sutters Mill in 1850, forever etching his name into history as an influential prospector. Panning for gold became synonymous with this era; hopeful miners meticulously sifted through riverbeds and streams with pans in hand, praying for that glimmering yellow metal to reveal itself. This laborious process symbolized both determination and uncertainty - each stroke bringing them closer or further away from their ultimate goal. A land-rush frenzy gripped America during this time period; crowds anxiously waited for their chance at staking claim on new territory. The promise of untapped riches fueled their anticipation while also highlighting how quickly fortunes could be won or lost within these newly opened frontiers. Contemporary colored engravings depicted California gold miners hard at work during this transformative era. Their perseverance amidst harsh conditions showcased not only their unwavering spirit but also shed light on the immense sacrifices made in pursuit of wealth.