We are committed to the preservation, education, and promotion of hudsons bay companys history and the ongoing care and maintenance of the companys historical hbc corporate art, artifact, image, and reference collections. Hudsons bay company is quite simply the most successful commercial enterprise ever known to capitalism. Hudsons bay company kids britannica kids homework help. Buy a point blanket direct from the bay and you may get a copy for free. Hudsons bay company id prince of wales northern heritage centre 2008. Traders would exchange the blankets for beaver pelts and other goods. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Hudsons bay company 90 by 100inch queen size 6 point blanket, naturalmulti stripe. If you are interested in collecting, you should look at the collectors guide to point blankets of the hudson s bay company and other companies trading in north america, also by harold. Thats why we were so 975,467 torontonians cant be wrong.
If the blanket has a label the task is fairly easy. Among our beloved symbols of canadiana, like tim hortons, hockey and beavertails, the hudsons bay point blanket ranks highly. The blanket an illustrated history of the hudsons bay point blanket hudsons bay company tichenor, harold hudsons bay company published by toronto, on. I can honestly say that i have never expected to buy a book dedicated to blankets, but the whole history of the hbc is so absolutely compelling that i was drawn towards it. According to the official company history, blankets had been taken to hudson bay as trade. These stripped blankets were created by the hudsons bay company in the northern part of north america in 1780. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. One of the trading commodities most highly prized by the indians in exchange for their beaver pelts, was the original hudson s bay point blanket. Typically, the wool blankets were traded with native americans for pelts. May 06, 2010 among our beloved symbols of canadiana, like tim hortons, hockey and beavertails, the hudsons bay point blanket ranks highly. Apr 17, 2009 the early history of the hudson s bay company comes alive in these true tales of furtrade wars, incredible wilderness journeys, hardships and danger. Absolutely fascinating history of the hudson s bay company s point blanket.
I chose 100% superwash wool for warmth and ease of cleaning. Extra large hudsons bay blanket coat vintagehaberdashers blog. I have identified and dated some twodozen styles of labels used by the hudsons bay company since 1890. Lots more to know here but this is an entertaining start. The label is white with orange lettering and reads hudson bay point bl. Bean classic since 1925, this heritage striped wool blanket is practically windproof and water repellent to keep you warm and dry. A hudsons bay point blanket is a type of wool blanket traded by the hudsons bay company. Hbc heritage our history the hbc point blanket history. The history of the hudsons bay point blanket the cavender. For over two centuries the hudson s bay company point blanket has been a familiar item in canada and around the world. I can honestly say that i have never expected to buy a book dedicated to blankets. The collectors guide to point blankets of the hudsons bay.
See more ideas about hudson bay, hudson bay blanket and blanket. Hudsons bay company hbc was created in another time and another country. Including that of the french traders of northwestern canada and of the northwest, xy, and astor fur companies by bryce, george isbn. Hudsons bay was not the only company to use the point system in blankets over the centuries, but thanks to 21st. Diversification the growth of retail spurred hbc into a wide variety of commercial pursuits. For over two centuries the hudsons bay company point blanket has been a familiar item in canada and around the world. Jul 15, 2010 the hudsons bay company originated in 1670 as fur trading posts, where furs were traded for manufactured goods. This blanketthrow is knit in the tradition of the hudson bay stripe pattern. Good introduction to the history of the hudson s bay company and the blanket.
The early history of the hudsons bay company comes alive in these true tales of furtrade wars, incredible wilderness journeys, hardships and danger. If you are interested in collecting, you should look at the collectors guide to point blankets of the hudsons bay company and other companies trading in. The hudsons bay company blanket may appear to be a fairly plain. Jan 02, 2014 there are a number of sites on the web about the hudsons bay company point blankets. The blankets were soon being tailored into hooded, belted. Genuine hudsons bay blankets continue to be sold by canadas hudsons bay company, and are available to buy from woolrich. The company is named for the hudson bay and the blankets were typically traded to first nations in exchange for beaver pelts. The collectors guide to point blankets of the hudson s bay company and other companies trading in north america cinetel, bowen island 2003, 128 pp, colour illustrations, spiral bound for field use. Mar 19, 2018 it was time to look further into the iconic status of the hudsons bay point blanket. I have identified and dated some twodozen styles of labels used by the hudson s bay company since 1890.
Name indexes hudsons bay company archives archives of. Hbc heritage our history the hbc point blanket faqs. Hbc heritage is an internal department of hudsons bay company. One of the trading commodities most highly prized by the indians in exchange for their beaver pelts, was the original hudsons bay point blanket. In 1779, hbc commissioned the textile mill of thomas empson of witney, oxfordshire, to produce pointed blankets. Hudsons bay company archives name indexes names of employees and other individuals are documented in many hudsons bay company archives records. From the research i have done, i believe it dates between 1950s to 1970s. The point blanket site offers a comprehensive overview and has an excellent bibliography. A year later, alexander murray, another hudsons bay man, started a new post about three miles upstream from the mouth of the porcupine, well beyond the arctic circle. Yet the hudsons bay point blanket owes its existence to both, with the hudsons bay fur trading post in canada acting as a halfway point between the two cultures. The hudsons bay company is as canadian as canadian gets, in fact its history of. The history and legacy of the famous english trading company in colonial america. Photo via very few blankets hold the iconic status that hudsons bay point blankets do.
The resulting original six hudsons bay company department stores, in victoria, vancouver, edmonton, calgary, saskatoon and winnipeg, are the living legacy of this period. The 18th century plains indians valued the preshrunk and felted cotswold wool blankets for their ability to retain heat and repel water, and used them for bedding and clothing. A hudsons bay point blanket is a type of wool blanket traded by the hudsons bay company hbc in british north america now canada and the united states during the 1700s and 1800s. It was time to look further into the iconic status of the hudsons bay point blanket.
Hi i am trying to determine the age and value of this blanket. Please save this pattern to your computer or mobile device before starting your project. Buy the remarkable history of the hudsons bay company. It will last a lifetime, according to leon leonwood bean himself, who always kept one on hand even in his car. Hudsons bay company blankets have been implicated in the spread of smallpox to native communities in the western plains during the late 18 th century. Hudson blankets has been making knit blankets since 1976. Germain maugenest first suggested to the company s london committee that pointed blankets become a regular trade item. The hudsons bay company collaborates with worldfamous. The blankets were used in the fur trade, traded in exchange for pelts. Good introduction to the history of the hudsons bay company and the blanket. Very few blankets hold the iconic status that hudsons bay point blankets do. How the hudsons bay point blanket became a canadian emblem. According to hbc heritage, the arm of hudsons bay dedicated to preserving and promoting the companys history, wool blankets were a commonly traded good between british north america present day canada and the united states in the 17th and 18th century. S the four traditional colours green, red, yellow and indigo were simply colours that were popular and easily produced using good colorfast dyes at the time that the multistripe blanket was introduced.
There are a number of clues to dating the manufacture of various point blankets. The hudsons bay company website also provides a history of the blankets. As the originators of the custom knit blanket, we have the history and expertise to produce a high quality product at a fair price for the ultimate enduser. If you are interested in anything to with the fur trade then i heartily recommend it. Oct 22, 2014 its story is a page out of alaskas history. It is enjoyed as much today as when it was first introduced into the fur trade in 1780. It doesnt get any more canadian the this materials.
First commissioned by hudsons bay company hbc in 1800, the multistripe design lives on as a testament to our shared canadian heritage. Germain maugenest first suggested to the companys london committee that pointed blankets become a regular trade item. By the end of the 1800s these posts were converting to retail shops. Sep 19, 2011 according to a representative at woolrich inc. The earliest mention of hudsons bay point blankets is contained in the minutes of a meeting of the hudsons bay companys london committee on 16th december, 1779, but there is little doubt that. The company is named for the hudson bay and the blankets were typically traded.
It is a 2 point cream color with the black, yellow, red and green stripes on both ends. Vintage hudson bay company wool 4 point blanket 88 x 66 made in england hbc. A quantum book produced for hudsons bay company madison press books, 2002, 1st edition, first printing, toronto, ontario 2002. A quantum book produced for hudsons bay company madison press books, 2002, 1st edition, first printing, toronto, ontario 2002 isbn 10. Today the company runs department stores throughout canada.
Point blankets are a type of trade blanket and are most closely associated. Hudsons bay company hit bay stores nationally midoctober and will be available for giftgiving throughout the 2011 holiday season until all 12,000 units sell out. Common research topics hudsons bay company archives. After finishing his first book for the hbc the blanket. See more ideas about hudson bay, fur trade and mountain man. The hudsons bay company introduced their distinctive striped point trade blanket in 1780. A hudson s bay point blanket is a type of wool blanket traded by the hudson s bay company hbc in british north america now canada and the united states during the 1700s and 1800s. Founded by the extraordinary adventurers and renegades radisson and des groseilliers, the hbc attracted many memorable characters. An illustrated history of the hudsons bay point blanket.
Woven into every aspect of canadian life for about 250 years, these blankets are associated with the turbulent history of the country. They were especially popular with hunters in the northernmost regions of the continent because they provided both warmth and camouflage during winter. Determining age and value of hudson bay blanket the ebay. Hudsons bay company, london white blankets like this hudsons bay company hbc blanket were among the first to be traded among fur trappers and native americans in north america. I have also done a considerable amount of research on the dates of labels used on blankets made by many. These stripped blankets were created by the hudson s bay company in the northern part of north america in 1780. Visit hbcs own website for their telling of the companys history hbc was founded on 2 may 1670 when king charles granted a charter to his cousin prince rupert and his associates.
With its proud stripes and distinctive black markings, the hudsons bay point blanket is a canadian icon. There is also a version made by the pendleton company, refered to as national parks blankets, but these blankets are not true hudsons bay and most importantly are lacking the points on the sides. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. In 1890, hbc began adding labels to their blankets because point blankets of similar. By the 19th century there was a string of hudsons bay company posts throughout canada. Mar 17, 2018 hudsons bay company, london white blankets like this hudsons bay company hbc blanket were among the first to be traded among fur trappers and native americans in north america. Hudsons bay point blanket the canadian encyclopedia. Imagine a company that controlled one twelfth of the earths surface, whose domain was 10 times larger than the holy roman empire, a company whose beginnings date from 1682, that developed its own army, its own navy and whose stock is still reputed to be owned by britains royal family. A narrative of seven years in the service of the hudsons bay company during 18671874. In those early days, the hudson bay point blanket first introduced in 1780. Absolutely fascinating history of the hudsons bay companys point blanket.
Unfollow vintage hudson bay wool blanket to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Buffum was manager of the northern traders store in the tlicho community of fort rae now behchoko, and his family lived in the area until 1946. According to david wondrichs cocktail history book imbibe. A brief history of canadas iconic hudsons bay blanket mental floss. Harold lee tichenor, point blanket collector and consultant to hudsons bay company, has written two books on point blankets and their collectibility. The hudsons bay company originated in 1670 as fur trading posts, where furs were traded for manufactured goods. The following indexes contain information taken directly from archival records in our holdings that are commonly used when looking for specific individuals. For generations my family has been collecting hudson bay blankets, and while i knew some of the background i was surprised to find a book dedicated to the. Hudson s bay company is quite simply the most successful commercial enterprise ever known to capitalism. Hudsons bay company staff moore and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. In 1890, hbc began adding labels to their blankets because point blankets of similar quality were being sold by hbc competitors from such manufacturers as earlys of witney.
The points represented the size and weight of the blanket. According to the official company history, blankets had been taken to hudson bay as trade goods as far back as 1668. A brief history of canadas iconic hudsons bay blanket. The broad variety of patterns and colours featured in this book will astonish even avid. This pattern is available as a digital download only. The hudsons bay company is the oldest company in canada.
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