Luis Maria Peralta And His Adobe

FRANCES L FOX

Publication: Smith-McKay Printing, 1975, San Jose

First edition. 8vo. Deluxe hardcover edition limited to 800 numbered copies. This is copy 528. Orange cloth, titles stamped in gold on front cover and spine, tan endpapers, vii [1], 92 pp., acknowledgements, illustrated, cattle brands, maps, notes, bibliography, index. In a pocket affixed to the rear pastedown sheet are special maps of the Northern California area printed on parchment. Illustrations by Ralph Rambo. Apache Indian Manuel Gonzalez built what is now referred to as the Peralta Adobe in 1797. Luis Maria Peralta moved into the Adobe (the oldest building in San Jose) in 1808, after becoming Comisionado of El Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe in 1807, where he raised his children with his wife María Alviso. Peralta made a few changes to the Adobe during his tenure: he partitioned the house into two rooms, added a porch, as well as kitchen and chimney. He planted his famous orchards of pears, peaches, apples, apricots and grapes to the west of the Adobe, where he and his wife spent most of his later life. In 1820, Peralta finalized a land grant from the Spanish Governor of Mexico for the Rancho at San Antonio (modern-day Berkeley, Oakland and Emeryville). He never lived on the rancho, however, but his four sons did. In 1842 he split the rancho among them, leaving his daughters his cattle, his adobe, and the land on which it sat. He died in 1851 in San Jose. Fine in dust jacket.

Inventory Number: 31113