Featured in this lot is a wonderful Hudson's Bay Heavy Wool Trade Blanket with bold black, yellow, red, and green stripes against a creamy white background. This stylish piece of history has become almost a necessity in cabin culture. It is both decorative and functional. The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) had been trading blankets since the company incorporated in 1670. By 1700, blankets comprised more than 60% of goods exchanged in the fur trade. According to HBC Heritage, the arm of Hudson’s Bay dedicated to preserving and promoting the company’s history, wool blankets were a commonly traded good between British North America (present day Canada) and the United States in the 17th and 18th century. Traders would exchange the blankets for beaver pelts and other goods. In 1779, the iconic point blanket was born. The number of points on a blanket represents the overall finished size of the blanket, not its value in terms of beaver pelts as is sometimes believed. It was popular with the early fur traders, miners, and early inhabitants of Canada because the wool fabric was quick to dry and offered up unmatched warmth during the brutal winters. Some devotees even converted the blanket into winter coats known as “capotes.” This Hudson's Bay heavy wool trade blanket is in very fine condition, no marring noted, edge stitching is intact and tight. Measures 70"W x 86"L