The Great Northwest Fur Trade: A Material Culture, 1763-1850
By Ryan R. Gale
169 pages, 11" X 8-1/2", softcover: $33.95
ISBN 978-0-9765797-4-8
Reviewed by T. C. Albert
There has long been a need for a handy, comprehensive guide to the North American fur trade, and Ryan R. Gale’s newly released volume fills the bill and then some.
When word got around that such a book was in the works, I couldn’t wait for it to go to print and start shipping, and when my copy arrived in the mail, let me tell you, it was not a disappointment.
Writing such a guide must have been a daunting task, but starting at the beginning with a great chapter on the native Americans and continuing with chapters on the trade goods, the voyagers, the officers who led the men, the food that they all commonly ate, the challenges of surviving harsh northern winters, the conflicts between the rival fur companies, and rounding it out with an extensive glossary, Mr. Gale has done a very thorough job. The brand-new student of the fur trade, the veteran researcher and seasoned reenactor alike will all find this book engaging and indispensable.
The author draws the book’s text primarily from original source documents, and each italicized passage is cross-referenced to a bibliography containing over 700 footnotes. That in itself makes this book a treasure trove of information, and the wealth of primary documentation alone makes this volume a must-have edition for anyone interested in the fur trade.
However, as the title implies, the primary focus of the book is indeed the “material culture” of the fur trade, and that culture is fully represented with hundreds of full-color photographs that visually make the fur trade come alive. These beautifully clear and detailed, glossy color digital images of original artifacts are often accompanied by images of original paintings showing them in use, not to the mention sketches, maps and traders’ inventory lists. For instance, the photos of the three original trade guns featured (a Wilson, a Barnett and a Tryon) are nearly the full width of the opened book, which is 22 inches, and even these left- and right-side full-length photos are further augmented by close-ups of the individual locks and lock markings, the barrel proof marks, the serpent side plate, and an iconic silver thumb piece “Indian Head” inlay.
The same attention to detail is seen in the clear color photos of many common everyday fur trade items like both native and European style clothing, hunting implements, traps, knives, axes, canoes, pistols, kettles and cooking utensils, medical, toiletry and surgical tools, trade silver and beads, and some not-so-common items like soldiers’ regimental buttons, swords and cutlasses, post cannon, fur scales and hide presses and decorated sled-dog blankets. The list goes on and on.
I don’t know what I enjoyed most, the detailed in-depth, well researched writing or the equally detailed and well done photos, but taken together I do know that I will continue to enjoy, reread and use this welcome addition to my library over and over again for years to come. To quote the publisher, “This book is a must have for the fur trade historian, re-enactor, collector, and artist.” If you are any of those, I sincerely recommend that you get a copy of this book for yourself too. You can also order from Scurlock Publishing by calling 800-228-6389 or online at [store.scurlockpublishing.com].
@ 2009 ScurlockPublishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.