Accession Number

2022.005

Description

A black hard-cover leather-bound illustrated directory book by George Henry Ham (1847-1926) titled: The New West: Extending from the Great Lakes Across Plain and Mountain to the Golden Shores of the Pacific: Wealth and Growth: Manufacturing and Commercial Interests: Historical, Statistical, Biographical. Winnipeg, MB: Canadian Historical Publishing Co., 1888. This near fine copy of an early piece of heavily illustrated promotional Canadiana, includes both maps. Half-leather over boards (10.25 inches tall), all edges sprinkled red, pp. [viii], [9]-205, [206-220 - ads] portrait front, tipped-in plates (some folding), two fold-out maps - one partially colored in outline, illustrated w. B&W photo reproductions, tables and engravings throughout. Volume with edges and corners rubbed, large map w. tape repairs verso and a 2.5" x .75" chip from bottom left edge of map near stub, smaller map with two short fold line tears, neither affecting map, some fold-outs w. miss-folds or a small, closed tears.

Narrative

This book focusses on the commercial aspects of the major centres of western Canada. In modern parlance, it might be said to be an “advertorial”, its purpose to promote the cities included in the book and certain businesses within them.  Between pages 200 and 201 are nine illustrations of buildings located in Victoria, B.C. The third illustration of these nine depicts the Dunsmuir residence, Craigdarroch. As of October, 2022, this is the earliest known graphic representation of the Castle. It was drawn by J.L. Wiseman more than two years before the house was finished. His drawing generally looks like Craigdarroch does today, but there are significant differences. For example, there appears to be no access the tower’s top floor, an anomaly also found in the Craigdarroch drawing published in Portland Oregon’s West Shore Magazine in 1889 (see: Craigdarroch Castle Collection 2004.9 - https://collection.thecastle.ca/Detail/objects/1153) Also, with the exception of some of the window and door openings, and the chimneys and the main west gable, the building’s surfaces are not depicted as being of rusticated masonry. The bay windows on the west façade are not depicted in semi-circular form which is how it was actually built. The Roman arches of the porte-cochere are exaggerated.

 

History of Use

Unknown. Purchased from a Nelson, BC book dealer in 2022.

Date

1888

Dimensions

27.7 x 3.5 x 20.6 cm

Material

Leather; Paper

Country of Origin

Canada