An 1854 map of San Francisco is among the highlights of PBA Galleries' Americana auction in San Francisco on July 23.

It's valued at $10,000-15,000.

San Francisco was at the centre of the California gold rush

The first map of the city was published in 1849 - the year after gold was found in the region. The present example (by Richard Bridgens) was published five years later, and shows the huge development that took place over this time as the city grew in prosperity thanks to gold.

Very few copies are known to exist.

This specimen has been on display at the San Francisco Museum and the Historical Society at the Old Mint since 2005.

A set of 18 photographs taken by the New French Canal Company during construction of the Panama Canal are expected to make $4,000-6,000.

The collection dates to 1899-1900, the period when the company took over work on the project.

It ultimately abandoned the endeavour a year later and sold it on to American contractors. The canal finally opened to great fanfare in 1914.

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