Journal of a Voyage to North-America...
Item #38508
CHARLEVOIX, Pierre Francois-Xavier. Journal of a Voyage to North-America...Containing the Geographical Description and Natural History of That Country, Particularly Canada. Together With an Account of the Customs, Characters, Religion, Manners and Traditions of the Original Inhabitants...London: Printed for R. and J. Dodsley...,1761. Two Volumes. viii,382pp.;viii,380,[22]pp. and 4pp. ads. plus folding map. Half titles. Contemporary calf, leather label, rebacked in matching style. Very good. Neat early engraved bookplate in each volume. Howes C308 ("b"). Graff 651. Sabin 12139. Clark I:60. Field 283. Charlevoix was sent to Canada by the Jesuits at the age of twenty-three. After four years of missionary work, he returned to France, whereupon he accepted the commission for this trip from the regent of France. During the years 1720 to 1722, he travelled in the Great Lakes region and down the Mississippi. Although his trip was publicly stated to be for the purpose of inspecting interior posts and settlements, he was actually under orders to seek out information relating to the existence of a passage to the pacific via continental North America. During his travels, Charlevoix questioned the Sioux and traders he found returning to the Mississippi via the Missouri River. Although he hoped to return up the Mississippi in 1723, he fell ill at Biloxi and was forced to return to France from there. "...One of the most interesting of 18th century travel book" - Graff.
Price: $4,000.00