SERIES: Pictorial History of the Sports and Pastimes of All Nations
NOTE: There were two different versions of the #24 card issued by Arbuckles', one for Alaska and one for Greenland, using the same illustration and the same text (except for the "country" name).
SCENES: Playing dominoes while camping; egg gathering; polar bear hunting
SIZE: 5" x 3"
ARTIST: Not signed, but reportedly Frances Brundage
DATE: 1893
LITHOGRAPHER: Kaufman & Strauss
CONDITION: Good to very good, I'd say. This card is only lightly soiled with slightly worn edges and corners. It has a small sharp crease across the upper left corner, which should be easily visible in the scan, and a larger crease about an inch or so below that one, less obvious but resulting in a short white streak below the boy's hand and a fainter thin streak above the bird near the top center. There's a mild thumb bend at the lower left. (Please see scans.)
MULTIPLE ITEM SHIPPING DISCOUNT: I will ship up to 4 cards for the single base shipping charge shown. For purchases of more than 4 cards, the shipping charge will increase by just a small increment for every 4 additional cards.
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REVERSE TEXT: ALASKA.
THE population of Alaska consists in large part of native Indians The land borders so nearly on Antarctic regions as to seem cold and unpromising to us. But it is not nearly so frigid as popular impression would make it. The climate although severe half the year, is very pleasant the remaining six months, and rather dry all the time. The western parts are covered with magnificent forests, some of the trees of which attain a height of 200 feet. The principal wild animals of the country are elk, deer, bear and seal. The native Indians are much like the Esquimaux, but less migratory. They are squat, hardy and brave.
Of all the animals of this northern land, the fiercest and most formidable is the grizzly bear, a white and shaggy monster, much larger than his brown kindred. Woe to the Alaskan who comes within his grip. But the unerring aim of the huntsman chooses a fatal spot and usually brings down the game. His meat is very edible, and his hide very valuable.
Hunting for birds' nests along the cliffs that fringe the shores of Alaska is a sport which the intrepid only engage in. The gatherer of eggs is swung down from the tops of the cliffs, and takes the eggs from the nests, placing them carefully in the basket he carries. The birds flock round his head, and almost deafen him with their cries. There is often very great danger that the rope will be cut by the rocks against which it swings.
Much camping out is also indulged in by the natives. Around the camp-fires many a game such as dominoes is played.
Seal hunting is the greatest industry of Alaska, these annually visit these shores coming in May and remaining until September.
