A Journal of Transactions and Events during a Residence of Nearly Sixteen Years on the Coast of Labrador; containing many interesting particulars, both of the Country and its Inhabitants, not hitherto known. Illustrated with Proper Charts.
Newark: Printed and Sold by Allin and Ridge. 1792. 4to. 31.5cm, The First Edition, in three volumes, xvi,[6],(list of subscribers),287 & x,505 & 248,[15]pp., with engraved frontis portrait (`Captain Cartwright visiting his Fox-traps' by T. Medland after W. Hilton), and 2 large engraved folding maps (the first with inset map is two sheets joined as issued, 96x 64cm {38"x25"} second map is 77x 60cm or 30"x 23.5"), bound in contemporary half lightly speckled brown sheep, gilt ruled double panel borders, crushed black morocco labels, gilt titles, marbled boards, some slight edge wear & some transfer from the corner leather onto the preliminaries, A Fine Set. Item #40753
Our first set since catalogue 138 in 1998. Lande 106. T.P.L. 586. Story p158. Vlach 138. Sabin 11150. Matthews 226. Morgan p64. O'Dea 245a. First edition of one of the earliest and best works on Labrador. The author, a former British Army officer, was the brother of the celebrated Major John Cartwright. Between 1770 and 1786, both in partnership with various British merchants and on his own behalf, the author made six expeditions to Newfoundland and Labrador. He traded in fish, seals and furs as well as establishing posts at Hamilton Inlet, Cape Charles and Sandwich Bay. He eventually ceased trading as a result of an increasing number of raids by American privateers, most notably John Grimes. The journal contains much detail of day to day activities and incidents. Cartwright was massively interested in all aspects of the surrounding country, including the Inuit, five of whom he brought to England, and who were the occasion of his meeting with Joseph Banks. Honesty and curiosity characterized his relationship with the Inuit, as a result of which, he earned their respect and acquired the language. Besides a study of the Inuit language he went some way to compiling a glossary of Newfoundland English. Both Southey and Coleridge admired the Journals, both for their plain subject matter and simplicity of expression.
Price: $9,000.00