Histoire Et Description Générale De La Nouvelle France, Avec Le Journal Historique d'un Voyage fait par ordre du Roi dans l'Amérique Septentrionale by CHARLEVOIX, P[ierre François Xavier] De [1682- 1761]

Paris: Rolin Fils, 1744. First Edition. The product of twenty years research and reflection, based on personal observation and material gathered from the archives of the Jesuit order and the Department of Marine, Charlevoix's famous work is the first general history of the French discoveries and settlements in North America, covering the period 1500 to 1736. Charlevoix, who was a Jesuit missionary to New France from 1705 to 1709, was charged in 1720-22, by the regent Philippe, Duc d'Orléans, to investigate the rumours about the existence of a western sea between the New World and the Orient. Volumes V-VI of his history provides a detailed and precise account of his observations made during the course of that journey, by canoe, up the St. Lawrence, through the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi to New Orleans, with stops at missions and fur-trading posts along the way. The work contains much important information about the Indian tribes and settlements, particularly in the Mississippi Country, and includes "one of the most valuable, if not the most valuable, early accounts of Louisiana." (Clark) Charlevoix's history is also highly valued for a number of other reasons. It contains the first annotated bibliography of New France (Vol. I pp. xli-[lxii]) (see Harrisse 'Bibliotheca Americana', pp. xvii-xviii), a remarkable illustrated descriptive catalogue of the principal plants of North America (Vol. II, pp. 56), an annotated calendar of major voyages and discoveries (Vol. I, pp. v-xl), and 28 engraved maps and plans of Acadia, Louisbourg, Port Royale, Port Dauphin, Quebec, the St. Lawrence, the River Saguenay, Montreal, Newfoundland, Hudson's Bay, James Bay, the Great Lakes, Louisiana, the mouth of the Mississippi, &c., prepared especially for the work by distinguished French cartographer, Jacques Nicholas Bellin (see Karpinski pp. 137-38). There is also a short essay by Bellin prefixed to Volume III (pp. xix), discussing the accuracy of his maps and the errors and misrepresentations of earlier cartographers. Dionne II 439. European Americana 744/50. Howes C-307. JCB I 763. Sabin 12135. Vlach 146 (incomplete). For variant issues with different publishers’ imprints, see Bell C270, Clark I 59 (1), Field 282, Gagnon I 793, Lande 125, TPL 4697, Streeter I 123. cfArents 730. DCB III pp. 103-110. Winsor V 63. 3 Volumes. [Vol. III with variant title: Journal D'Un Voyage...]. 4to. pp. 4 p.l., viii, lxi, [1], [2], ix-xxvi, 664; 2 p.l., 56, xv, [1], 582; 2 p.l., xix, xiv, 543. with half-titles. titles in red & black. 28 mostly folding maps & plans by Jacques Nicholas Bellin, engraved by Dheulland, 44 engraved plates on 22 folding sheets depicting 96 varieties of American flora. title vignettes & 4 elaborate headpieces drawn by A.Humblot & engraved on copper by P.Aveline. numerous woodcut headpieces & initials. contemporary calf, gilt backs, Vol. I rebacked with spine mounted, corners renewed (Vol. II front joint cracked, several neat joint repairs). armorial bookplate of Earl Fitzwilliam