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AN INVITATION TO BRITISH COLUMBIA


A brief but illuminating letter, previously unrecorded (or published), by T.E. Shaw (i.e. Lawrence) written in 1929 to Martin Allerdale Grainger, BC's first chief forester, in response to his suggestion that Lawrence consider retiring in the province. The letter is reproduced in facsimile and type. Noted Lawrence scholar Jeremy Wilson (a co-proprietor of the Castle Hill Press) wrote the preface, and bookseller Don Stewart (MacLeod's Books) wrote a brief essay on Grainger's life in BC.

As a frontis, the book features a wood engraving by George Kuthan, borrowed from the extensive collection of his original blocks at the Rare Books & Special Collections Library at the University of British Columbia. The engraving's BC logging image is particularly suited to a book associated with Grainger, the author of Woodsmen of the West (1908) and one of the province's first chief foresters.

The text was set in 12-point Garamont, and printed on Reg Lissel's handmade HM Text paper. The letter facsimile was printed on vegetable parchment from polymer plates by David Clifford. The book is octavo, 20 pages plus the facsimile. The folios are sewn on tapes and put in a limp case made from Reg Lissel's natural faux parchment paper, with the title printed up the spine. Ten copies were extra-bound by Claudia Cohen in quarter leather and pastepaper over boards. (One of these was be presented in a clamshell box, along with the original letter.) C$300 (paper case), C$600 (extra-bound); out of print upon publication.

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HEAVENLY MONKEY
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