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Inspired by an exhibit of artifacts from the fur trade of the 1700s, this fascinating and attractive catalog retells the story of North America’s earliest industry as a cross-cultural encounter. By focusing on the ways an early capitalist enterprise adapted to the demands and assumptions of Native people, it restores balance to the account. Everyone who participated in the fur trade was changed by it–from the ironworkers of England to the Native women who incorporated beads into their artistry. A series of essays accompany photos of tools, clothing, and trade items as well as eighteenth-century paintings and drawings, some in color.