Preliminary identification
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Overview
This is a first edition paperback copy of Canadian author Anne Cameron's whimsical 1987 novel, 'Stubby Amberchuk & the Holy Grail'. Published by the regional West Coast press Harbour Publishing, it features distinctive cover art and design by Gaye Hammond.
Story
Published in 1987, this quirky Canadian tale blends regional West Coast culture with Arthurian myth. Anne Cameron, celebrated for her deep connections to Indigenous storytelling, crafted this rare, lighthearted modern fable.
Maker / Origin
Anne Cameron (1938–2022) was an influential Canadian novelist, poet, and screenwriter who lived on Vancouver Island. She is best known for her groundbreaking work 'Daughters of Copper Woman', which brought West Coast Indigenous matriarchal myths to a global audience, though she also wrote playful, eccentric fiction like this volume.
Condition & Value
The cover shows light edge wear, minor creasing, and some faint surface smudging consistent with age and handling. The spine appears intact with no major creasing, and the interior pages show typical light toning but remain clean. This moderate wear reduces the value by about 20% compared to a pristine, unread copy.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.