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The Property of a Gentleman
Lot 138

CANADA – HUDSON'S BAY
Autograph journal kept by Captain Albert Hastings Markham on board the Alert, while surveying conditions in Hudson's Bay on behalf of the Canadian government 1886

24 June 2015, 11:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £15,000 inc. premium

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CANADA – HUDSON'S BAY

Autograph journal kept by Captain Albert Hastings Markham on board the Alert, while surveying conditions in Hudson's Bay on behalf of the Canadian government ("....Under steam and sail the old Alert has been making wonderfully quick progress, and has run no less than 170 miles from noon yesterday until noon to-day... We first called at the wigwams, which were similar to those I have already seen on the prairies, except instead of being composed of buffalo skins, they were made of seal skins – the fire was in the centre and a large hole was at the top for the smoke to go out... the squaws and pappooses were all sitting round the fire eating fish... The men were all on the beach gazing at the Alert, probably the first Steamer that many of them had seen! The beach I should have said was strewn with the Carcases of the white whale in every stage of decomposition! The stench was somewhat appalling! Leaving my ship mates to talk in the best way they could with the Indians I sauntered about collecting botanical specimens..."), c.120 pages, on lined paper, some very light foxing and minor dust-staining but overall in fine fresh condition throughout, half dark blue morocco over pebbled boards, upper covers stamped in gilt with the Markham arms and crest, spines lettered in gilt, light wear to binding, 4to, 1886

Footnotes

'UNDER STEAM AND SAIL THE OLD ALERT' – Albert Markham takes his old ship, now in Canadian service, to explore the area round Hudson's Bay. This expedition was undertaken at the behest of the proposed Hudson Bay Railway Company in order to test the navigability of the Hudson Strait, Markham's route being from St John's to York Factory, through Hudson Strait, and then on to Winnipeg by land. Part of Markham's journey was undertaken in the Alert and part in a canoe with a party of Indians. Lieutenant A.R. Gordon RN was in command of the expedition and wrote up the official report, submitted to the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries, Ottawa. Markham wrote up his own account as ʻThrough Hudson's Strait and Bay: A Naval Officer's Holiday Trip', published in Good Words for 1888. Confirmation – were it needed – that this is the actual book carried with him on his journey is provided by one of its openings that is splattered like pressed flowers with the remains of four mosquitoes, the bane of Markham's life on the trip. The report that Markham produced on the navigability of the Hudson's Bay was described as being of 'inestimable value' and he received the official thanks of the Canadian Houses of Parliament (Life, p. 202).

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