VOYAGES...DANS L'AMERIQUE SEPTENTRIONALE. [with:] MEMOIRES DE L'AMERIQUE SEPTENTRIONALE, OU LA SUITE DES VOYAGES..

Amsterda: Chez Francois l'Honore, 1705. Two volumes. [18],376pp. plus eleven folding plates and a frontispiece; 336 ,[2]pp. plus nine folding plates and a frontispiece map (most plates and maps folding). Lacks the map, "Carte de la Riviere Longue." Titlepages printed in red and black. 12mo. Contemporary calf, spines gilt. Front board of second volume detached; front board of first volume nearly so, held by cords. Boards rubbed and worn, chipped at spine ends. Institutional blindstamp on both titlepages, and in a few other instances. Quite clean internally overall. A decent copy, although lacking a map. In a green half morocco and cloth slipcase, gilt leather label. Second edition, variant issue, with the imprint of François l'Honore, "revue, corrigee, & augmentee." Lahontan's narrative is a curious blending of fact and fantasy, to be honored in regard to his account of his travels in the Great Lakes region, but to be accompanied by tongue placed amply in cheek in regard to his claims to have journeyed west of the Mississippi, which Howes states have the veracity of "the legends of the sea serpent." Contains "A Short Dictionary of the most Universal Language of the Savages" in the second volume, as well as some specimens of the Huron dialect. The most notable map is the "Carte de la Riviere Longue," (lacking in this copy) depicting an imaginary river extending westward from Lake Superior. The "Carte General de Canada" is also considerably confused geographically. It remains a classic voyage, partially imaginary, by a man "of more than ordinary learning and intelligence" (Sabin). HOWES L25, "aa." CLARK I:111. PILLING, PROOF-SHEETS 2177. PILLING, ALGONQUIAN, p.292. MICHIGAN RARITIES 6. WHEAT TRANSMISSISSIPPI 86, 87. SABIN 38641, 38642. GREENLY MICHIGAN 9. EUROPEAN AMERICANA 705/110