The Grants of Sequim Prairie by Edgar B. Wicklander (SIGNED, First Printing), 1982 📜✍️🌲

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a rare, signed first printing of The Grants of Sequim Prairie, a comprehensive, self-published family history. Authored by Edgar B. Wicklander, this book meticulously documents seven generations of the Grant family, beginning with the birth of James Arthur Grant in Scotland in 1824. As a book that is both a labor of love and a rich primary source, this volume is a premier acquisition for genealogists and family historians. Its detailed narrative, genealogical charts, and illustrations serve as a vital record of a family's odyssey from the Atlantic Coast to the Sequim, Washington area.

• The book is a tangible link to a late 20th-century trend of professional and amateur genealogists documenting their findings.

• The book’s value is significantly enhanced by its unique provenance as an "association copy" that is personally inscribed by both the author, Edgar B. Wicklander, and his wife, Dorothy.

• This inscription makes it a one-of-a-kind historical artifact that speaks to a personal connection and the human desire to preserve one's legacy.

 

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

The Grants of Sequim Prairie is a comprehensive record of one of the earliest pioneer families in Washington’s Dungeness Valley. The book meticulously documents seven generations of the Grant family, who were instrumental in establishing the Sequim Prairie’s first irrigation system. The self-published volume includes 168 pages, 16 illustrations, and 40 genealogy charts that document 217 descendants. It is a treasure trove of genealogical information and a testament to the family's perseverance and ingenuity.

• The book’s narrative provides a unique window into the life of pioneer settlers in the Pacific Northwest, tracing the family's migration from Scotland to Nova Scotia, and eventually to Washington.

• The book’s value is enhanced by the inclusion of a photograph of James Arthur Grant, a central figure in the family's history.

• The meticulous detail and narrative structure make it a fascinating artifact of American family history and a vital primary source for scholars and collectors alike.

 

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

Edgar B. Wicklander is the author and publisher of this family history, a self-published work that was printed by a regional press in Honolulu, Hawaii. His wife, Dorothy Garrett Wicklander, also contributed to the book, writing a section on personal portraits.

• Wicklander's efforts represent a significant trend of professional and amateur genealogists documenting their findings. 
  

• The personal inscription from both the author and his wife transforms the book from a standard family history into a one-of-a-kind historical artifact that speaks to a deeply personal human connection.

 

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

This book was published in 1982, a period that saw a renewed interest in genealogy and family history. It is an artifact of a time when professional and amateur historians, often using the newly available technologies of the era, sought to document and preserve their family legacies. The book's publication in the Pacific Northwest, a region with a strong pioneer history, is particularly significant.

• The book provides a unique window into the local history of Sequim, Washington, detailing the challenges faced by early settlers in the Olympic rain shadow.

• The book also offers a subtle commentary on the complex relationship between the early European settlers, like the Grants, and the indigenous S'Klallam Tribe, the original inhabitants of the region.

• It serves as a historical record of a community's evolution from a difficult, arid prairie to a thriving agricultural region due to the cooperative efforts of its pioneers.

 

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is intended for a curator of American genealogy, a scholar of Pacific Northwest history, or a private collector of unique first editions. It is an ideal acquisition for an individual who values a book’s historical significance and its documented personal history. The unique personal inscription from the author and his wife makes this a perfect fit for a collection that cherishes the intimate story behind an artifact. The book appeals to a collector who is interested in the intersection of poetry, spirituality, and regional history.

• It is not just for display, but for a reader who is serious about understanding the personal and creative journeys of a generation of pioneers.

 

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

As a first printing from a small regional press, this book is a rare and desirable asset. The scarcity of a well-preserved, signed copy in this condition is a key factor in its value. The book's authenticity, combined with its status as a firsthand account of a major expedition, makes it a non-replicable piece of intellectual history. The price reflects its age, its condition, and its historical significance.

• This is a non-replicable asset, holding value that far exceeds that of a standard printing.

 

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This volume is a genuine and handsome survivor, showing authentic wear consistent with a book from the mid-20th century.

• The hardcover is in a solid state, with a tight binding and clean pages.

• The covers show some minor rubbing and shelf wear, which is expected for a book of this age.

• The overall condition is an honest and transparent portrayal of a well-cared-for volume that was likely a cherished part of a home library.

 

8. Translation of Inscriptions/Ephemera (Conditional) ✍️📜🔤

This book's unique provenance is documented by a personal inscription on the front endpaper.

• The inscription reads: "Aloha from Dorothy and Ed Wicklander / To James Potter who bears a name, like The Potters, who helped to bring about so many members of The Grants".

• This inscription, personally penned by the author and his wife, transforms the book into a truly unique and one-of-a-kind piece of personal history.

 

9. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• The author's inscription contains a personal note about "the Potters, who helped to bring about so many members of the Grants," which adds a unique layer of personal history that would be of great interest to a genealogist or historian.

• The book was published by Hawaii Hochi, Ltd., a press in Honolulu, Hawaii. This geographic detail adds a unique layer to the book's provenance, linking a family history from the Pacific Northwest to the Hawaiian islands.

• The book's subject, James Arthur Grant, was a pioneer who helped establish the first irrigation system in Sequim, Washington. This cooperative effort led to the founding of the Sequim Irrigation Festival, which is now the longest continually running festival in the state.

• The name "Sequim" is derived from the S'Klallam word for "hunting ground" or "place for going to shoot," a fact that was only officially disproven in 2010.

 

10. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: The Grants of Sequim Prairie: A Family History

• Author/Maker: Edgar B. Wicklander

• Year: 1982

• Publisher/Foundry: Published by E.B. Wicklander, Printed by Hawaii Hochi, Ltd.

• Place of Origin: Honolulu, Hawaii

• Format/Binding: Hardcover, Signed

• Edition: First Printing, January 1982

• Rarity: Rare, Signed

 

Key Figures from the Grant Family History 📜✍️✨

This book is a detailed family history that chronicles seven generations of the Grant family and their key contributions to the Sequim Prairie area. The narrative and genealogical charts within the book highlight the following members:

• James Arthur Grant: The family patriarch, who was born in Scotland in 1824 and whose journey serves as the starting point for this family history.

• James R. Grant: An early pioneer settler on the Sequim Prairie who, along with other community members, was instrumental in establishing the first irrigation canals in 1895. This cooperative effort ultimately led to the creation of the annual Sequim Irrigation Festival.

• Ulysses Simpson Grant: The book notes that this descendant was named after the famous general, a detail that connects the family's story to a major figure in American history.

• Benjamin Rogers Potter: A descendant whose name is noted in the family's lineage. The book's inscription from the author notes that he bears a name like "the Potters, who helped to bring about so many members of the Grants".

• Edgar B. Wicklander & Dorothy Wicklander: The author and his wife, who meticulously compiled this self-published family history. Their personal inscription to James Potter adds a one-of-a-kind layer of provenance to this volume.