Wilson Alan Introduction (3 results)

Hardcover. frontispiece & two maps (illustrator). 1st edition. pp.lxxxiv, 328,Royal 8vo,Boards sl. scuffed, else nf cond. in sl. chipped & sunned vg dj,ISBN 0920224016. This is an out-of-series copy of volume XXXI of a limited edition, published by the Hudson's Bay Record Society.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. First Edition. Limited Edition. No. [blank]. Original publisher's black cloth binding with gilt lettering on front cover and gilt coat of arms decoration on front cover. Original beige paper dust jacket included. Dark brown lettering on beige dust jacket spine. 6 1/2" x 9 1/2." Pages lxxxiv, [1] 2-328, complete. One black-and-white frontispiece portrait of Charles John Brydges and two black-and-white maps (one of which is a folding map), complete. Eighteen additional pages in back list the names of Society Members and Subscribing Libraries. Preface and Introduction in front. Appendices and Index in back. Pages are virtually pristine and intact except for light age toning and a faint red mark limited to top edge of text block. Covers are virtually pristine and intact except for bumping to head and tail of spine and slight wear to extremities. Binding is tight. Dust jacket is clean and intact overall but has light age toning, slight bumping to extremities, moderate edge wear, and tape residue on back panel. A Fine book in a Fine dust jacket. This is Volume XXXI in the series, Publications of the Hudson's Bay Record Society. It contains transcriptions of letters that were originally written by Charles John Brydges from 1879-1882. Brydges was a Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) Land Commissioner and the successor to Donald A. Smith. His letters from 1879-1882 represent a time of great change for HBC but also one of relative economic prosperity. The years 1879-1882 were still within the time period of the Canadian land boom where land sales brought HBC much financial wealth. At the time, there were discussions in HBC about refocusing the business approach to prioritize land sales instead of the sales of furs, especially as competition within the fur trade industry had only increased over the years. Notably, modernization was fast sweeping across Canada, and HBC was experiencing some difficulties in keeping up with the times. The mid- to late-nineteenth century was also a period of significant political change in Canada. For example, the 1870 Deed of Surrender, a transcription of which is included herein, coincided with the establishment of Manitoba as a Canadian province which affected HBC business operations. Brydges took an approach that sought to meet the needs of an increasing population, development of the Canadian wilderness, and changes in contemporary politics. In turn, he implemented projects that focused on modernizing business practices and infrastructure. Brydges's letters generally represent the HBC's economic prosperity at the time and discuss subjects such as land sales and the development of infrastructure such as bridges, steamboat transportation, and properties such as retail stores, mills, and hotels. Three Appendices in back: "Appendix A: Deed of Surrender, 1870," "Appendix B: Observations by Sandford Fleming, 1882," and "Appendix C: Report by William Armit, 1882." Front colophon: "This copy is No. [blank] of a limited Edition which is issued only to subscribers to The Hudson's Bay Record Society.".

Hardback. Condition: VG. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine DW. 2nd Printing. Black cloth, gilt. Book is in excellent condition internally, BUT covers have faint white blotches over them. Dustwrapper/dustjacket (£17.99) is in very fine condition with virtually no signs of wear and/or age.