Even as in ancient times such a great outpouring of commercial energy and money for fur is mainly decreed by fashion. The arbiters of fashion are fickle of course, but at a recent showing of designer collections for women in New York it was said that fur and fur trimmings were everywhere, with mink currently in most popular favor. As one newspaper correspondent reported, hats were made of fur or trimmed with it; coats were collared, cuffed, bordered or lined with it; suits wore wide fur collars and revers; and evening gowns had deep hemline borders of fur. And not so long ago in the New York Times appeared a full page advertisement for a chair upholstered in fur, “the world’s most sumptuous hostess chair ... lavished with the enchanting elegance of genuine mink!”

The author wishes to acknowledge the many kindnesses of those who have been helpful to him. He is much indebted to the staffs of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Athenaeum of Philadelphia. He is also indebted to members of the General Society of Colonial Wars, the Netherlands Society, the Colonial Society of Pennsylvania and the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia who have assisted him in many ways. From papers he has delivered before these groups has come much of the material used in this book. The author is also very grateful to Professor Arthur Adams of Boston, Massachusetts for his criticism and advice.

A bibliography of the works consulted in the preparation of the manuscript is appended, special acknowledgement being due to Doctor Amandus Johnson of Philadelphia for his published documentations of the Swedish fur trade in the Delaware valley.

And, to his wife, Eliska, the writer of this book is very thankful for her patient understanding during the many week ends that he spent on the manuscript.

Nathaniel C. Hale

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1959.

CONTENTS

ChapterPage
[Preface][vii]
[I.][Royal Robes and Beaver Hats][1]
[II.][Vikings and Skraelings in Vinland][16]
[III.][Codfish Land Spawns a Fur Frontier][24]
[IV.][Samuel de Champlain Lights a Blaze of Red Terror][37]
[V.][England Moves to Extend Her Realm][44]
[VI.][Captain John Smith Takes to Trade][57]
[VII.][The Dutch Profit by a Mutiny][67]
[VIII.][Conception of New England][82]
[IX.][The Pilgrims Rely on God and Beaver][91]
[X.][A Border Fixed on the Coast of Maine][107]
[XI.][The Bay of Virginia][114]
[XII.][Kent Island and the Backside of Virginia][124]
[XIII.][New Netherland’s South River][135]
[XIV.][Swedish Interlude on the Delaware][147]
[XV.][New Netherland Threatened Without and Within][164]
[XVI.][The English Close Their Coastal Ranks][180]
[XVII.][Westward the Fur Frontier of America][186]
[Bibliography and Acknowledgements][205]
[Index][209]

PELTS and PALISADES

Friend, once ’twas Fame that led thee forth
To brave the Tropic Heat, the Frozen North;
Late it was Gold, then Beauty was the Spur;
But now our gallants venture but for Fur.