Lot #102: Classic 1963 History Book -- "Lord Selkirk of Red River" by John Morgan Gray (First Edition!)

First Edition. Blue Cloth. Gold Gilt Lettering. Dustjacket. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1963. "Lord Selkirk of Red River" is a definitive biography of Thomas Douglas, the 5th Earl of Selkirk. The book provides a meticulous account of Selkirk’s ambitious and controversial efforts to establish the Red River Settlement in what is now Manitoba, Canada, as a refuge for displaced Scottish Highland crofters. Gray explores the complex geopolitical and corporate conflicts of the early 19th century, specifically the violent rivalry between the Hudson’s Bay Company—in which Selkirk was a major shareholder—and the North West Company. The narrative is noted for its sympathetic but balanced portrayal of Selkirk, depicting him as a high-minded visionary whose humanitarian goals were often undermined by his own legal missteps and the harsh realities of the Canadian wilderness. Dimensions: 22 cm Pickup category timeslot {A}