THE NATURAL AND CIVIL HISTORY OF THE FRENCH DOMINIONS IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA. WITH AN HISTORICAL DETAIL OF THE ACQUISITIONS, AND CONQUESTS, MADE BY THE BRITISH ARMS IN THOSE PARTS.PART I. CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION OF CANADA AND LOUISIANA. [bound with:] PART II. CONTAINING PARTS OF THE ISLANDS OF ST. DOMINGO AND ST. MARTIN, THE ISLANDS OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW, GUADALOUPE, MARTINICO, LA GRENADE, AND THE ISLAND AND COLONY OF CAYENNE

Jefferys, Thomas

Published by London, 1761

Two volumes bound in one. [8],132,*129- *142,[133]-168 (as issued); [4],246pp. plus eighteen folding maps and plans. Errata overslip on p.80 of second volume. Folio. Antique-style speckled calf, tooled in gilt, spine gilt, raised bands, gilt morocco label. Minor toning and foxing. A handsome copy in very good condition. First edition, second issue of this major rarity. "A monumental geographical work important equally for its text as well as its maps" - Streeter. "This is the best English language description of Canada and Louisiana to its day" - Nebenzahl. This extensive work is a primary source for the French on the Great Lakes and in the Mississippi Valley at the height of their power in North America. Its British publication is also indicative of increased British interest in the Mississippi Valley and the West - they were on the verge of ejecting the French from their colonial empire, as happened several years later with the conclusion of the French and Indian War. The first part of Jefferys' work describes Canada and Louisiana, and France's trouble with the Indians. The second part provides a close look at the island territories of the French West Indies, including Martinique, Hispaniola, Guadeloupe, and other smaller islands. These Caribbean colonies brought a fortune to the French from sugar cultivation, and numerous maps included here depict the French sugar islands. The maps are generally regarded as the best of the period, and include a map of North America based on D'Anville and a plan of New Orleans. This copy has the 1761 titlepage and includes the contemporaneous addition of "The French Attempt to Retake Quebec in 1760" on pages *129 to *142 in the first volume. "Additional information concerning the capture of Quebec, received after printing Part I, necessitated the insertion of the starred duplicate pages" - Howes. Rare. Due to its importance, there are substantial institutional holdings of this book, but it is rarely met with in the rare book market. FIELD 775. HOWES J83, "b." LANDE 470. SABIN 35964. PILLING, PROOF-SHEETS 1978. TREMAINE 319. NEBENZAHL 33:77. STREETER SALE 128. REESE, BEST OF THE WEST 9. Seller Inventory # WRCAM54962

Bibliographic Details

Title: THE NATURAL AND CIVIL HISTORY OF THE FRENCH ...
Publisher: London
Publication Date: 1761