THE HISTORY OF CANADA, From Its First Discovery to The Present Time

McMULLEN, John

Published by KJ. McMullen, Publisher, Brockville,C.W., 1855

About this Item

Octavo, original brown cloth boards with leather spine and corners, spine lettered in gilt. 506 pp. Important Pre-Confederation Imprint. Pp 154 mispaginated 156 as in all known copies. Leather tips somewhat worn, some wear to spine ends, boards only slightly soiled and marked, at least a Very Good copy. Uncommon. John Mercier McMullen (1820-1907) was a bookseller, author, printer, and publisher based in the city of Brockville in Eastern Ontario. Born on June 4, 1820 in Ireland, McMullen immigrated to Canada in 1848 with his first wife, Sarah Charlotte Nesbitt. After settling in Brockville in 1849, McMullen opened shop as a bookseller and stationer. However, it appears that McMullen published at least one title, 'The Colonial Policy of England Examined by Ebenezer Telltruth' (1849), in St. Catharines, Ontario before arriving in Brockville. In 1852, McMullen began to publish 'The Leeds Free Press," however, the competition he faced from two local rival newspapers, 'The Statesman" and "The Recorder," forced him to discontinue publication in 1854. McMullen instead began work on his book "The History of Canada, from Its First Discovery to the Present Time," which was published in 1855. The book received wide acclaim and sold steadily for two decades. According to 'The Canadian Encyclopedia,' McMullen's book 'stressed' the necessity and goodness of material progress, commercial expansion, British parliamentary institutions and colonial self-government. In this view Canada West (Ontario) was seen as both harbinger and guardian of such virtues ; other regions were shunted to the periphery, regarded (as with Québec) either as impedimenta or (as with the West) as soil for possible Ontario-based expansion. The Maritime colonies were largely ignored.' In 1856, McMullen purchased the newspaper "The Monitor" (formerly "The Statesman"), which he published until 1888 when ill health forced his retirement. Other books written and published by McMullen include 'Every Man His Own Lawyer, and General Legal Form Book' (1881), 'The Chimney Islands: An Interesting and Instructive Historical Sketch' (1901?), and 'The Supremacy of the Bible' (1905).

Seller Inventory # 313796

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE HISTORY OF CANADA, From Its First Discovery to The Present Time
• Publisher: KJ. McMullen, Publisher, Brockville,C.W.
• Publication Date: 1855
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First Edition (& 1st printing).
• Seller catalogs:
  • Canadiana and Canadian Literature