Grant, George Monro, ed. — Picturesque Canada, Part 1-14

Toronto, Canada, Art Publishing Company, 1882. First Edition. Softcover. Size: 4to 11" - 13" tall. A consecutive run of the first fourteen "Parts" of this influential travelogue and promotional publication beneficial to the Canadian government and its nascent tourist industry. The title at rear flap of each reads "Our Country--as it was and as it is--pourtrayed by the best writers and artists." Each of the 14 issues are bound in simple printed, illustrated paper wraps in a tall, near-folio format, measuring 13 1/4" x 10 1/2" tall and wide, respectively. Chipping along edges to several but not all issues, some splitting at a few spine bottoms and tops of the wraps. Heavily toned exterior edges, but interiors are complete, clean and unmarked. The illustrations (galore) are laid in; many are fairly arresting black-and-white engravings of important Canadian centers, peoples, flora, fauna and landscape and natural beauty. They appear to be wood-engravings, not steel, but are gorgeous. Many have tissue-guards. Printed in Toronto by Belden Bros. Undated, but copyright was registered via the Copyright Act of 1875. This run consists of Parts I-XIII. Well-crafted essays and articles by various Canadian writers who extol the virtues of Canada, with a special focus on Ontario and Quebec. Illustrations include those hors-texte and even full-page plates. The compiler, George Monro Grant (1835 - 1902) was an important Canadian church minister and writer, but he'd been an educator, too, at Queen's College, Kingston, and served as its Principal. He was aided by L.R. (Lucius Richard) O'Brien (1832-1899). Canada's Parliamental Archive web-site notes that the present item was "one of the most ambitious topographical works of its time. The book’s 880 pages are spread over two lavish volumes and richly illustrated with more than 500 wood engravings." Based on Picturesque America, which was published between 1872 and 1874, the design of Picturesque Canada is attributed to "two Chicago brothers, Howard Raymond and Reuben Booth" and who opened a publishing office in Toronto, Canada specifically to make this publication work, "under the Belden Brothers imprint." The Archive highlights that it was mostly American illustrators who completed the volumes (and who had trained on Picturesque America). The artistic supervisor, Lucius Richard O’Brien, was President of the Royal Canadian Academy and is said to have "crossed the country from east to west to complete nearly 100 of the book’s intricate wood engravings."Member, I.O.B.A., C.B.A., and adherent to the highest ethical standards. . . . Fair