The Link / Eskimo [Run of Thirty-Four Issues Bound in One Volume]

[The Oblate Fathers of The Hudson Bay Vicariate]

Published by The Oblate Fathers of The Hudson Bay Vicariate Oct., 1944 - Sept./Dec., 1953, Churchill, Manitoba, 1944

About this Item

8vo., measuring 9" x 6". Bound in bright red buckram over boards, gilt lettering to the spine. Replete with black-and-white, and colour maps, photographs, illustrations, drawings, cartoons, et al. Comprising of a rich selection of oral histories of the Indigenous Peoples of the North, accounts of the Oblate missionaries in their efforts to convert them to Christianity, much detail on their customs, hunting and fishing techniques, "Arctic Mission Diaries" as written by the priests recounting their interactions with their flock, their Indigenous neighbours, and their colleagues. An exceedingly scarce offering of thirty-four issues of this Indigenous, Christian-centered periodical as published by The Oblate Fathers of The Hudson Bay Vicariate, bound together in one volume, and comprising of the following issues: No.1 (Oct. 1944) - No.3 (Oct. 1945) "The Link"; No. 4 (Feb. 1946) "Eskimo"; Vol. 1 (May 1946) - Vol. 30 (September/December 1953) "Eskimo". [Note that in February 1946, "The Link" was renamed "Eskimo" with the subsequent issue of May 1946, being designated as "Volume 1"]. Thus, there are four numbers and thirty volumes present for a combined total of thirty-four issues]. We were unable to locate copies of "The Link" (No's. 1-3) in commerce. Indeed, the only copies of "The Link" which we can locate are the originals in the Stefansson Collection and copies on microfilm at Marquette University. Furthermore, No. 4 (Feb, 1946) titled "Eskimo" appears to be an exceedingly scarce issue. Library and Archives Canada incorrectly states that Volume 1 of "Eskimo" is the fourth issue, being that the first three issues (No's. 1-3) were published as "The Link". Other national repositories such as the Catalogue of the National Library of Australia make the same error. No mention of the publication of No. 4 "Eskimo" in February, 1946 is made in the "Arctic Bibliography" (Vol. 1 - 4720), "A Bibliography of Manitoba" (Morley - p.256), or "A Bibliography of Canadian Inuit Periodicals" (Rankin - p.78 / p.158). The introduction to No. 4 "Eskimo" states, "Our Missionary Bulletin, "The Link", will henceforth bear the more suggestive title, "Eskimo"." It appears as though confusion has arisen due to the fact that the first issue which was titled "Eskimo" retained the numbering of "The Link" and it wasn't until the second issue of "Eskimo" that the volume numbering began. Therefore, as a whole, there are 4 "numbers" from Oct. 1944 - Feb. 1946 and 84 "volumes" from May 1946 - Fall / Winter 1970. The only record which correctly acknowledges this, which, we have uncovered is the original collection at Dartmouth College. Neat ink name to head of the ffep. Numbers 1-4 and Volume 4 are copies of the original periodical from the Stefansson Collection at Dartmouth College Library. Volume 1 is from the Library of the National Museum of Canada, with one stamp to top wrapper; the only other library stamp being a small call number to the final page of the final volume. One 4" closed tear to page 7 of Volume 20, and one smaller 2" closed tear from pages 7 - 10 of Volume 26. With the exceptions noted above, the overwhelming majority of the issues are entirely without blemish. Although volumes of "Eskimo", even the early ones, have been relatively common in the marketplace, runs such as our offering are exceedingly uncommon. Near fine. Seller Inventory # 2191

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Link / Eskimo [Run of Thirty-Four Issues...

Publisher: The Oblate Fathers of The Hudson Bay Vicariate Oct., 1944 - Sept./Dec., 1953, Churchill, Manitoba

Publication Date: 1944

Binding: Hardcover

Edition: First Edition, First Printing.