HENNEPIN, LOUIS. A New Discovery of a Vast Country in America, Extending above Four Thousand Miles, between New France and New Mexico; with a Description of the Great Lakes, Cataracts, Rivers, Plants, and Animals. London: for M. Bentley, J. Tonson, [et al.] 1698. 2 parts in one, 8vo, contemporary blind-panelled calf, rebacked, spine gilt, leather of covers cracking, corners and board edges rubbed, the plates with a few small repaired tears and reinforced folds, short fold break to one plate, short repaired tear to the first map, the second map with repaired fold break entailing loss of a few letters of the caption, all but one supplied in ink facsimile, hole to fol. I1 of part 2 with loss to 7 letters, stain to upper margin of pp. 14-19, partially obscuring pagination of pp. 15-16, some foxing and browning to text and plates. FIRST ENGLISH EDITION, issue with imprint ending "Tonson," with the title-page of vol. 2 supplied from the "Bon-" issue, engraved title-page, 6 folding engraved plates, 2 folding engraved maps.

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HENNEPIN, LOUIS. A New Discovery of a Vast Country in America, Extending above Four Thousand Miles, between New France and New Mexico; with a Description of the Great Lakes, Cataracts, Rivers, Plants, and Animals. London: for M. Bentley, J. Tonson, [et al.] 1698. 2 parts in one, 8vo, contemporary blind-panelled calf, rebacked, spine gilt, leather of covers cracking, corners and board edges rubbed, the plates with a few small repaired tears and reinforced folds, short fold break to one plate, short repaired tear to the first map, the second map with repaired fold break entailing loss of a few letters of the caption, all but one supplied in ink facsimile, hole to fol. I1 of part 2 with loss to 7 letters, stain to upper margin of pp. 14-19, partially obscuring pagination of pp. 15-16, some foxing and browning to text and plates. FIRST ENGLISH EDITION, issue with imprint ending "Tonson," with the title-page of vol. 2 supplied from the "Bon-" issue, engraved title-page, 6 folding engraved plates, 2 folding engraved maps.

"[Hennepin's] work forms one of the most important volumes in the early history of North America. He lived for eleven years on this continent and penetrated farther into the then unknown interior than anyone before him. He was the discoverer and explorer of the upper reaches of the Mississippi and the first to describe Niagara Falls, exaggerating their height, however, to above 6000 feet. He tells of the building of the new Fort Crevecoeur which was named by the Indians Checagou (Chicago)..."--Lande 423; Wing H1450; Church 773; Howes H416 (a "b" rating); Sabin 31370; Streeter sale I, 106; Field 685.

Provenance: Effaced ownership inscription on recto of engraved title.