The Geography of the Zamorano

The map below indicates some locations where the Zamorano printing press was located at some point and was used. You can click on the different locations and see some of the things that were printed on the Zamorano. Below the geolocation map is the names of the different locations as well as some general information about the history of the press in these locations.

Monterey: Where the Mexican government printed out proclamations and during the Mexican American War, the Zamorano press printed California’s first newspaper, the Californian on August 15th, 1846.

Sonoma: Here the press came and printed California's first medical book in 1838. Later on, the press was moved back to Monterey in 1842, where it stayed unused until the Californian was printed.

San Francisco (Yerba Buena): The Zamorano was moved to San Francisco in 1847 by Robert Semple where the Californian continued printing until it was temporarily closed  while its editors went to participate in the California Gold Rush. (Bibliographical Society of America)

Sacramento: The Zamorano Press moved from San Francisco to Sacramento soon after the beginning of the Gold rush where it started the Placer Times.

Stockton: The Old Monterey War Press went to Stockton where it created the newspaper the Stockton Times. This newspaper was very important in getting the word out on what was happening in regards to the Americanization of California. (Bibliographical Society of America)

Sonora: The Zamorano press was used to print the first paper in the gold country in Sonora, CA, or, as it was called, “Queen of the southern Mines.” Here the press established the town’s first newspaper, the Sonora Herald with its first issue being published on the fourth of July in the year 1850. And later the remains of the charred Zamorano press was brought back to Sonora for its final resting place when another fire ultimately destroyed it. (Bibliographical Society of America)

Columbia: The Zamorano press was then sold to G.W. Gore in the town of Columbia in Tuolumne county where it would start this town’s first newspaper as well: The Columbia Star. The Star had its first issue on October 25th, 1851. But, after some unpaid debts, the press was to be brought back to Sonora. Night before it was to leave, the press was set on fire and badly charred. (Kremble pg 183-184)