Botanical Photograph Album
[British Columbia?]: [no publisher], c. 1940s.
A lovely vintage photograph album containing plants that are either native or endemic to the Pacific Northwest (likely British Columbia), neatly assembled by an amateur botanist. Most images are taken in the wild, while several are of pressed plant specimens shot against a white background. The last three images differ from the theme: One depicts a black bear attempting to get into a barrel of Swift'ning Shortening lard (a Chicago-based company whose product was later sold in a Canadian shop in Manitoba under the name Swift Canadian Co.), a cluster of Lymantria dispar caterpillars on a leaf, and a freshly caught trout. Oblong. 8 x 5.5". Commercial string-bound black leatherette photo album with upper cover lettered in gilt. Canadian Kodak Co., "No. A Eaton Special" label to rear pastedown. 78 neatly arranged silver gelatin prints, 21 of which are hand-colored, ranging in size from 6cm x 8.5 cm to 17.5cm to 12.5cm. Images are corner mounted, 5 mounted with glue, typically with mounted typed captions at bottom margin. Lacking two photos. Near Fine with light rubbing to covers of album, some images silvered. A beautiful collection of images. The first comprehensive field guide to plants of the Pacific Northwest was not published until 1973.
Price: $1,250