[NORTH AMERICA — TRAVEL AND SPORTING PHOTOGRAPHY] — WILLIAM N. BEACH. 'AN OUTING IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES [AND] ALASKA'. CA. 1933-1937

3 albums, oblong folios (10 x 15 1/4 in.; 255 x 386mm). 601 silver gelatin prints (from 2 3/4 x 4 9/16 in.; 70 x 115mm, to 8 x 10 1/4 in.; 202 x 260mm, though mostly 4 x 6 in.; 102 x 152mm) mounted onto stiff gray album leaves, Beach's signed Alaskan hunting licence and various contemporary newspaper clippings tipped in; occasional and minor toning. Full red morocco, bound by the Harcourt Bindery, covers with multiple gilt rules and decorative gilt cornerpieces, spines with raised bands in six compartments, second and fourth gilt-lettered, others with repeat overall gilt decoration, turn-ins with decorative gilt rules and cornerpieces, marbled endpapers; one or two minor nicks to spines. Vols. I & II with red cloth covered slipcases; some soiling.  

3 albums, oblong folios (10 x 15 1/4 in.; 255 x 386mm). 601 silver gelatin prints (from 2 3/4 x 4 9/16 in.; 70 x 115mm, to 8 x 10 1/4 in.; 202 x 260mm, though mostly 4 x 6 in.; 102 x 152mm) mounted onto stiff gray album leaves, Beach's signed Alaskan hunting licence and various contemporary newspaper clippings tipped in; occasional and minor toning. Full red morocco, bound by the Harcourt Bindery, covers with multiple gilt rules and decorative gilt cornerpieces, spines with raised bands in six compartments, second and fourth gilt-lettered, others with repeat overall gilt decoration, turn-ins with decorative gilt rules and cornerpieces, marbled endpapers; one or two minor nicks to spines. Vols. I & II with red cloth covered slipcases; some soiling.
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A magnificent group of photographs, compiled by William N. Beach, the author of 'In the Shadow of Mount McKinley' Two of the albums present here focus on Beach's time in the Canadian Rockies, and the third on his excursion through Alaska.  All three postdate the publication of 'In the Shadow of Mount McKinley', which established Beach as an important figure in the world of big game hunting. According to one of the contemporary newspaper clippings tipped into the album, Beach's hunting party "was after specimens of Alaskan wild life to be placed in the Smithsonian," with W.L. Brown, curator of the Institute, accompanying the party. Shortly after the trip, "With Moose and Caribou in Alaska," an article by Beach, was published in 'Exploration and Field-Work of the Smithsonian Institution in 1937', and featured photography from the the "Alaska" album present here.

These expertly captured images of the Denali wilderness and the Rockies offer a rare and extraordinary glimpse not only into big game hunting, but also into remote and pristine landscapes.