Mel Crawford (Canadian, B. 1925) "British Columbia" Signed lower center. Original Mixed Media on Cold Press Illustration Board.Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Canada 17c Flags of Canada British Columbia stamp issued June 15, 1979.British Columbia is Canada's westernmost Province, with shorelines washed by the Pacific Ocean. European contact with British Columbia dates from a much earlier time than that of the other western Provinces because the discovery was made by sea. Sir Francis Drake sighted Vancouver Island in 1579, but no explorers landed on the coast until 1778, when Captain James Cook landed at Nootka Sound during the long search for the Northwest Passage. The furs that Cook's men took in trade from the Indians -- especially the sea otter pelts -- caused a sensation, and soon the waters off the coast of present day British Columbia were crowded with trading s from England and the newly-founded United States. From the time of Cook's landing until 1795, the owner of the British Columbia coast was in dispute. But in 1795, Spain gave up her claims to the Pacific coast lands north of her California colonies. British explorers had reached the Pacific by the overland route from Montreal in 1793, and British domination was clearly established. But that domination was not to bring widespread development. In 1855, the total European population was still only 774. That was changed by the discovery of gold in 1858. Suddenly, the population grew to more than 25,000, and the quiet trading center of the Hudson's Baypany became a crowded frontier. The British Parliament took control of British Columbia in that same year, establishing it as a Crown Colony, and British Columbia joined the Dominion in 1871.Image Size: 14 x 12 in.Overall Size: 17.25 x 15 in.Unframed.(B05360)