History of Klondike gold rush has the stamp of quality

Klondike Gold: The Philatelic History of the Klondike Gold Rush, by Kenneth J. Kutz. Gold Fever Publishing, 7 Whaling Rd., Darien, Conn., U.S.A. 06820.

In a new book marking the hundredth anniversary of the discovery of gold on the Klondike River, Kenneth Kutz offers an unusual and charming account of a momentous event in North America’s mining history.

Kutz, a retired miner and long-time stamp collector, has chosen to illustrate the book with a plethora of postcards, letters and other postal material.

Although at first blush this approach might seem restrictive, the letters make for a fascinating source of information.

Among the most absorbing accounts are the letters of Thomas Kay, an Englishman whose rough trip to the Klondike — by way of the “all-Canadian” overland route by way of Telegraph Creek and Teslin — made him resolve that he would not leave without getting some return for his trouble.

While some chapters are concerned with rather specialized matters of postal history, the book can be enjoyed by philatelist and layman alike. And readers who like to hold forth in verse will appreciate the inclusion of three Robert Service poems.

Although it suffers the odd typographical error and inconsistency, Kutz’s history is well-researched and evocative of the color and vitality that make the turn-of-the-century gold rush such an enduring legend.