Walkerville, Canada. Hiram Walker & Sons. Circa 1928-29.
Advertising booklet in stiff card covers 6 1/4 x 3 1/4 inches unfolding to double sided sheet 18 x 12 inches. On one side are two maps one featuring Ontario, Canada and portions of the U.S. and the other featuring Eastern Canada including New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and, again, portions of the U.S. On the verso are 12 panels, nine of them illustrated with color images of Hiram Walker's whiskeys (Rye, Gin, Bourbon, Highland Whiskey, etc.) in radiantly hued bottles - a tempting sight. Also, a panel titled "When in Quebec Buyer's Guide." The maps are of central interest, based on text in small print at bottom of sheet: "Key - This red dot indicates location of liquor store." The portions of the U.S. featured on the map are devoid of red dots; this is also the case with Nova Scotia, while to the north, New Brunswick must be satisfied with a scattering of red dots. Research establishes that prohibition existed in Nova Scotia between 1921 and 1930, while New Brunswick suffered the indignity between 1917 and 1927. (Prohibition in the U.S. ended in 1933.) A common-sense interpretation suggests the brochure and maps were published circa 1928-1929, with red dots helpfully directing Canadian - and U.S. - customers to convenient retail outlets. Only one WorldCat listing has been found—The University of Michigan Ann Arbor. Clearly an uncommon item documenting the unquestionable (if doomed) achievements of Canadian and U.S. dryhards. Moderate wear to covers, multiple pinhole separations to map fold intersections, one inch split to top left edge fold; good condition. A useful website can be found at Wikipedia: wiki/Prohibition_in_Canada#Ontario. Item #55471

Price: $345.00