BajaNomad

Old Baja Guide Books and more... (I)

David K - 9-19-2004 at 01:39 PM

It was a good day for Baja books yesterday (my birthday)... after breakfast with my son at Sunrise Cafe, in Vista, we went to the two used book stores in town. At the second one, they had a fine cond. copy of The Sea of Cortez by Ray Cannon ($7.95) and the grand prize: a fair cond. but rare 1973 'Baja Sea Guide' (for just $3.50)! I was jazzed!!

I was hoping to get a copy of Ben Hunter's 'The Baja Feeling' for a fellow Nomad, but it was no longer there...

I am still a ways away from matching the collection of Neal Johns, but I am working on it!!!



[Edited on 11-22-2004 by David K]

Baja Sea Guide

Jack Swords - 9-19-2004 at 03:02 PM

Well, Happy Birthday David! The Baja Sea Guide has some excellent photos. Check out the one of Isla Benedicto erupting in 1952. He also has some good historical references, so enjoy reading. By the way, there are some notable inaccuracies for boaters in this book, Jack Williams was a part of its beginning, but bailed to make his own books due to those inaccuracies. Just the photos are worth more than the price.

David K - 9-19-2004 at 05:16 PM

Yes indeed Jack... The photos are worth it, but the book is a find as it is.

The last time I saw one was three years ago with Alejandra in one of those book stores... She spotted it first and bought it. Unfortunately, it is in La Paz Bay with all of her other possessions (in her former floating home) lost in the hurricane.

akbear - 9-19-2004 at 06:27 PM

That is a good catch David. I bought mine new back in early '70's for $29.95 ! Only has small rip on dust jacket. Just looked at it, has certificate for 112# sailfish I caught in Mazatlan in '85 & AAA Baja California Map also '85.

Happy Birthday & Happy Hunting !

Akbear:coolup:

David K - 9-19-2004 at 06:44 PM

Thank you Mr. Bear! I know you have a Viva Baja sticker on a fishing boat in Alaska... If you want some of the new 'got baja?' stickers BajaCactus made for me, send me your address again (u2u or email). Take care amigo del norte!

Another small treasure found...

David K - 10-3-2004 at 10:38 AM

Tom Miller's 'Eating Your Way Through Baja' c1986 was my latest aquisition for my Baja library. I knew Tom, so it was extra special.

He authored several editions of 'The Baja Book' which was the most popular Baja travel guide following the completion of Highway One's paving in Dec. 1973.

Tom and Shirley Miller created the Mexico West Travel Club and during the 1980's. Their Mexico West magazine was the way we Baja people exchanged information, before the Internet!

Tom passed away from cancer several years ago. Shirley helped Discover Baja Travel Club get started, promoted Costa Rica travel for a while and now lives in the Pacific Northwest, but still travels to Baja.

David K - 11-21-2004 at 02:18 AM

Today another good find: Jim Hunter's 'Offbeat Baja' c1977 an excellent guidebook to several off pavement trips... Including Mision Santa Maria, the copper mine near La Gringa, the Seven Sisiters coast road, the far side of Concepcion Bay, and several more.

I had a copy for over 25 years but it is badly worn from use. This one was just $4 and in excellent condition.

First Edition of the 'Baja Bible'

David K - 11-21-2004 at 02:33 AM

Here is the 1956 first edition of Gerhard & Gulick's Lower California Guidebook. I obtained it from an Internet used book source for $15. The road south of San Felipe went to the sulfur mine then turned east and ended at 'Agua de Chale'. Mention of a new jeep road being constructed from Rancho Laguna Chapala north via San Luis Gonzaga is made.

The Fourth Edition

David K - 11-21-2004 at 02:45 AM

of the book was 1967 and reprinted in 1970. I obtained a copy autographed by Howard Gulick in Nov. 1971. I had a copy that Howard autographed for me when I met him with my dad around 1968... I was around 11 years old. That copy is probably lost, unfortunately.

The Fifth Edition

David K - 11-21-2004 at 03:08 PM

In 1975, Walt Wheelock (of La Siesta Press) offered to update the book to include the new highway and other peninsula changes. The title was changed to "Baja" from "Lower" and Walt Wheelock's name replaced Peter Gerhard's, however Gerhard's historical data remained as before. Howard oversaw the material and even went south to check Walt's data. Howard's maps were replaced with three removable folding maps that did correctly show the new highway's location, but were smaller scale and less detailed than Howard's.

[Edited on 11-21-2004 by David K]

Cliff Cross' Baja Guide

David K - 11-21-2004 at 03:25 PM

Very popular in the 1970's was Cliff Cross' big Baja guidebook. Full of photos and fun to use maps that were hand drawn with a bird's eye view of each area. The original guide was out in 1970. A second edition was out in 1972 with many good notes and additions. The final edition was in 1974 to include the new highway. However, the maps were inaccurately altered to show the new highway (no new log was added).

David K - 11-21-2004 at 04:17 PM

Off The Beaten Track in Baja was my favorite of Erle's books. I had Choral Pepper sign mine on one of the many photos of her in it.

Sounds like we know some of the same folks! I started a new thread in this forum to show autographs. This thread is starting to open slow from the number of images already...

Mexitron - 11-21-2004 at 10:11 PM

What a great thing to find these books on used bookstore shelves for a song! Nice going DK.....never even seen "Off the Beaten Track" before, and the AAA guidebook--that's a great find!

David K - 11-21-2004 at 10:56 PM

Off the Beaten Track in Baja c1967

David K - 11-22-2004 at 11:26 PM

This thread continues on Part II: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=7028