Subject: Exploration and Surveys
Period: 1704 (dated)
Publication:
Color: Black & White
Size:
4 x 7 inches
10.2 x 17.8 cm
This is volume 2 of Lahontan's Nouveaux Vouyages de Mr. La Baron de LaHontan, dans l'Amerique Septentrionle… It includes the Petit Dictionaire de la Langue des Sauvages, a very early Algonquin and Huron dictionary, a folding map of Canada, New England and the Great Lakes, "Carte generale de Canada," plus 11 engravings, 222 pp. + index. Original full brown calf, spine tooled in gilt with raised bands.
Louis Armand, Baron de Lahontan served ten years in the French military in Canada, was involved in the Indian Wars, and commanded several posts in the west. He traveled extensively in the Wisconsin and Minnesota region and the upper Mississippi Valley. Upon his return to Europe he wrote this enormously popular travelogue. In it he embellished his knowledge of the geography of the Great Lakes region, invented Indian tribe names, and created several fictions, particularly the "River Longe" extending from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. Over twenty editions of his book were published between 1703 and 1741, including editions in French, English, Dutch and German. The immense popularity of the book resulted in his distorted cartography being accepted by several eminent cartographers who incorporated the "Lahontan" concepts into most of the maps of the 18th century.
References: Map - Kershaw #291; Karpinski (MI) plt. VIII; McCorkle #703.2.
Condition: B
Binding rubbed with some repairs, small worm track on front cover. Map with crisp impression and a 1" binding tear. Contents generally clean with a bit of minor foxing.