BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS  


Pine cone arrangement and photograph courtesy Kim Koch, Paperhound Bookstore, Vancouver

Book illustrated by Ivy Abercrombie

This is a photograph of a book by John Davidson, a Scottish immigrant who was British Columbia's first Provincial Botanist, appointed around 1902. The Paperhound Bookstore posted this photo online, and when I saw it I immediately called to order the book. Alas, it was already sold. The book contains "pictures specially drawn by Ivy Abercrombie" (q.v.). The book was published in 1927, with 37 full page plates, "many in colour."

Davidson was an energetic and hard-working Scotsman, although there is a story that he called himself "Professor Davidson," but when asked where he got his degree he would never give a direct answer. As a result he was apparently not well looked-upon in local society. Eventually he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate for his life's work in botany.

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