The Big Bonaza: Comstock Lode, Virginia City, Nevada

I stumbled across my 1947 edition of Dan De Quille's book on the history of the discovery, mining and people of the Comstock Lode. He wrote the book while he was a writer for the Territorial Enterprise newspaper in Virginia City, Nevada.  He worked at the paper for 31 years (1862-1892).  Mark Twain was also writer at the newspaper.  For a few years Twain worked with De Quille.

Dan De Quille (William Wright)

The book was conceived by the Barons of the Comstock:  Mackay, Fair, Jones and Ralston.  They decided in 1874, about 15 years after the discovery of the bonanza lode that a history of the district should be written.  Based in part on the recommendation by Twain to Mackay, De Quille was selected to be the write the history of the Comstock, a newspaper writer that lived and worked on the Comstock. The book was published in 1876.  The book is written in a style similar to a series of newspaper articles.  It has 439 pages and 73 chapters; that is only an average of six pages per chapter.  My favorite thing about the book are the many pen and ink illustrations from the Comstock.

First edition volume of The Big Bonanza.

The edition of the book that I bought in Virginia City in 1988 was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1947.  I purchased the book used for $35.  The book was originally purchased from The Broadway Store book section. (In the 1960's and before, The Broadway Department stores of California had book sections.) The Broadway sold the book for $5.00.

The original first edition is available via the internet and more recent editions are also available.



Title page for this edition, published to commemorate the discovery of gold and silver in California and Nevada.

"Song of the Honest Miner:"  One of the many pen and ink illustrations from the book.

The RED outline is area burned in the fire of 1875 [The highlighting is mine]

Satellite view of Virginia City at the same angle and direction as the above lithograph.  Source:  Google Earth.

The book is a wonderful history of the Comstock and the early days of Nevada including its colorful characters, the mining and milling, the miners, the mine accidents, the fire of 1875 and the fantastic fortunes that were made for the fortunate "few."  Pickup a copy of the book for a fascinating read about the Comstock Lode.