"ALASKA VIEWS" KLONDIKE PHOTO ALBUMS (2)
An historic pair of photograph albums compiled by Klondike gold miner William B. Sickler who arrived in the Yukon gold fields in early 1898 to try to strike it rich panning and mining for gold. Present are approx. 265 original photographs, the vast majority about 6" x 8", many captioned and signed in the negative by the photographer, including Eric A. Hegg, Larss & Duclos, W. Irvine and L. E. Robertson. The images are all mounted albumens on both sides of heavy cardboard album pages which are contained within 15 1/2" x 11 1/4" pebbled black leather albums with gilt titles: "ALASKA VIEWS". The first album bears Sickler's Dominion of Canada Free Miner's Certificate" pasted thereto, 1p. oblong 4to., Victoria, B.C., Mar. 8, 1898. Valid for one year, the permit allows Sickler to prospect, as well as to take game and cut timber for his own personal use. The photos within the album are all-encompassing: the include views of camps on Bonanza Creek, Skagway, Dawson and the fire there before, during, and after, mines and An historic pair of photograph albums compiled by Klondike gold miner William B. Sickler who arrived in the Yukon gold fields in early 1898 to try to strike it rich panning and mining for gold. Present are approx. 265 original photographs, the vast majority about 6" x 8", many captioned and signed in the negative by the photographer, including Eric A. Hegg, Larss & Duclos, W. Irvine and L. E. Robertson. The images are all mounted albumens on both sides of heavy cardboard album pages which are contained within 15 1/2" x 11 1/4" pebbled black leather albums with gilt titles: "ALASKA VIEWS". The first album bears Sickler's "Dominion of Canada Free Miner's Certificate" pasted thereto, 1p. oblong 4to., Victoria, B.C., Mar. 8, 1898. Valid for one year, the permit allows Sickler to prospect, as well as to take game and cut timber for his own personal use. The photos within the album are all-encompassing: the include views of camps on Bonanza Creek, Skagway, Dawson and the fire there before, during, and after, mines and digging, Indians, important locals, Mounted Police, stores, shops, hotels, saloons, parties, all parts of the journey to Dawson, Kilroot Pass, White Pass, One Mile River, 40 Mile River, lakes, trails, boat building, steamers, and much more. Sickler, photographer Hegg, and Hegg's studio are also shown. Also included: Sickler's 50pp. legal folio typed manuscript: "My Trip to the Klondike", ca. 1900, heavily annotated and corrected by Sickler. This unpublished manuscript describes Sickler's hair-raising trip to the Klondike with five other men, commencing in Portland on March 6, 1898 and ending in Dawson eating dinner on June 11, 1898. In addition to the many hazards the men encounter en route, Sickler describes meeting local notables and photographers (including Hegg and Larss) whom he befriends with Hegg promising proofs of his most important photos. These albums are a treasure, with some of the photos likely unique. Most all are in very fine condition, with only a few having faded a bit. A museum quality collection.