History and General Description of New France. Translated, with Notes, by John Gilmary Shea.
New York. John Gilmary Shea. 1866-1872. Hardcover. 4to., 28cm, in 6 volumes, The First Edition in English, limited to 250 sets, with 18 maps, 15 plates & 4 facsimiles, rubricated title pages, in the original half dark brown morocco, blind decorated raised bands, gilt titles, marbled boards and endpapers, blind ruled borders on the boards, internal perforation & blind library stamps, some wear stops on the centre on the boards and some slight wear on the board edges, institutional bookplates on the front paste down endpaper, otherwise a very good to fine sound clean set. (cgc) T.P.L. 189 Howes C-307. Sabin 12135. Field 282. Originally published in French in 1744 in three 4to volumes and later the same year reprinted in six 12mo volumes."The principal work of this great Jesuit traveller and historian and the pre-eminent authority on the French period of the west." Howes. "This work is one of the best authorities concerning various Indian tribes, some of which no longer exist." Lande. Charlevoix's account has a number of advantages - he was familiar with the land and had a feel for the story he was trying to tell; he was able to gather oral testimony which leavened the dry recitation of facts and figures; and he had access to the official archives of France. Includes important material relating to the French in the Mississippi Valley. Item #36307
Price: $2,500.00