GOLD RUSH: A PICTORIAL LOOK AT THE PART EDMONTON PLAYED IN THE GOLD ERA OF THE 1890s. by Blower, James. Foreword by Grant MacEwan - 1971

Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1971. 199 pp, oblong (8 3/4" H x 10 5/8" D). Profusely illustrated with b&w photographs, reproductions. "By 1898 all roads led to the Klondike. One such road was to pass through the tiny Edmonton community, and Edmonton was never to be the same again. As the gateway and principal outfitting centre to one of the most popular - albeit treacherous - overland trails to the Yukon gold fields, Edmonton, then only 1500 strong, found itself playing host to over 2000 rough and hearty Klondikers. Within two years the town population doubled, local merchants prospered, business boomed. They were colourful times, not to be missed, and James Blower recounts them fondly. He salutes those boisterous, hopeful men equipped with pack horses, ox teams or dog sleds, embarking on a wild journey of more than 1600 miles through forests, swamps, perilous rivers and lakes. Parties of men never heard from again - did they strike it rich in the gold fields or were they victims of drowning, scurvey, starvation? Fortunately, Edmonton boasted two excellent photographers during the Klondike days - W.C. Mathers and Ernest Brown - who recorded on film this extraordinary period in history. Their photographs, most of which have never been published before, represent the greater part of this book." Faint thin red pen mark and scattered tiny stains on top of text block. Dust jacket has minor efge wrinking, two very small edge tears archivally taped, an areas of a four tiny scuffs on front panel, very light soiling on rear panel.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good -/Very Good.