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THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN

細節

[LA SALLE, René-Robert Cavelier, sieur de, 1643-1687]. TONTI, Henri de (1650-1704). Dernieres decouvertes dans l'Amerique Septentrionale de M. de la Sale. Mises au jour par M. le Chevalier Tonti, Gouverneur du Fort Saint Louis, aux Islinois. Paris: Jean Guignard, 1697.

8o (157 x 95mm). Titlepage with woodcut monogram, woodcut head- and tail-pieces. Publisher's catalogue at end. (Early ex-libris inscription neatly erased from top margin of title). Modern red morocco gilt, covers gilt- and blind-stamped. Cloth clamshell case.

THE FIRST ACCOUNT OF LA SALLE'S LAST, FATAL VOYAGE. After traveling the length of the Mississippi and claiming the territory for France, La Salle returned to France and mounted a second expedition which mistakenly landed at Matagordo Bay, Texas (Fort Saint Louis). Tonti remained in charge of the outpost in Illinois territory and later led several missions down the Mississippi from there, hoping to find the missing La Salle. Though he denied authorship of the work, it has been shown to be based on first-hand accounts Tonti compiled from survivors of La Salle's expedition, whom he interviewed. FIRST EDITION, 2nd issue, (cancels for pp. 167-168, 171-172 and 185-188). Rare: only two copies have appeared at auction since 1975.

European Americana, 697/58; Graff 4164; Harrisse 174; Howes T-294; JCB Catalogue 4:346; Sabin 96172; Streeter sale 1:105; Wagner, Spanish Southwest, 67.