Open Collections

[between 1830 and 1899]

1 bookplate : relief printing ; 6.5 x 2.9 cm

Allan, Andrew

Still Image

Owner may have been Andrew Allan, who was born in Saltcoats, Scotland on December 1, 1822 to Captain Alexander Allan and Jean Crawford. In 1819, Alexander established the Allan Shipping Lane, which transported goods between Scotland and Montreal. Andrew's older brother, Sir Hugh Allan, expanded the family shipping business to Canada, and in 1839 Andrew immigrated to Canada to work as a clerk in what eventually would become the H. and A. Allan Company. In 1846 Andrew was made partner and along with his brother was heavily involved in the Montreal Ocean Steamship Company. By 1857 Hugh and Andrew would be come sole owners of the company, which became known for linking the St. Lawrence River with Great Britain. The company received government contracts to transport mail to Great Britain and was subsidized to bring immigrants back to Canada. In 1861, Hugh, Andrew, and other businessmen created the Merchants' Bank of Canada. Andrew served on the board from 1861-1883 and was the president from 1883-1901. Andrew was also heavily involved in the Manitoba and North Western Railway, of which he became president in 1892. It was eventually leased by CPR in 1900. Andrew Allan's philanthropic work included the Montreal Sailors' Institute, where he was president from 1862 until his death. The Institute promoted sobriety and morality among seamen. He also supported the Montreal Protestant House of Industry and Refuge. He died June 27, 1901. A copy of this ex libris in green is also available in the Philippe Masson Ex Libris Collection at McGill University.
References:
1) Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online (2000). Allan, Andrew. Retrieved November 5, 2012, from http://www.biographi.ca/EN/009004-119.01-e.php?id_nbr=6523
2) Electric Scotland. Andrew Allan. Retrieved November 5, 2012, from http://www.electricscotland.com/History/canada/allan_andrew.htm
3) Prescott, W., Harrod, S., & Ayearst, M. J. (1919). A list of canadian bookplates: With a review of the history of ex libris in the dominion. Boston: Printed for the Society of Bookplate Bibliophiles.
4) Wikipedia. (2012). Andrew Allan (shipowner).Retrieved November 5, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Allan_%28shipowner%29
5) The Philippe Masson Ex Libris Collection at McGill University, from http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/bookplates/

RBSC Bookplates

2013

Images provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy, or otherwise use these images must be obtained from Rare Books and Special Collections: http://rbsc.library.ubc.ca

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