LONG, JOHN.
Voyages and Travels of an Indian Interpreter and Trader, describing the Manners and Customs of the North American Indians; with an Account of the Posts situated on the River Saint Lawrence, Lake Ontario, &c. To which is added, a Vocabulary of the Chippeway Language.... London: Printed for the author; and sold by Robson, Debrett, et al., 1791.
[2], x, [1 errata, 1 blank], 295 pp. Subscriber's list present. With folding engraved map: Sketch of the Western Countries of Canada 1791, 223 x 314 mm. 4to (293 x 223 mm). Untrimmed in original boards. Custom chemise and morocco-backed slipcase. Offsetting to map, light spotting to title, light wear to boards including a tear to backstrip.
FIRST EDITION, SUPERB COPY IN ORIGINAL BOARDS. Vail calls this "the most valuable record of Indian life and the fur trade of the period." Long was a trapper and a trader with the Hudson's Bay Company for over a decade, from 1768-1787. The invaluable vocabulary comprises about a third of the work. Ayer Indian Linguistics 28, Chippewa 128 and 150; Field 946; Graff 2527; Howes L443; Hubach, p 27; Jones 619; Pilling Algonquian pp 314-315; Rader 2249; Sabin 41878; Smith 6073; Staton/Tremaine 597; Streeter sale 3651; Vail 878; Waterston p 18.
Provenance: bookplate of Frank Brewer Bemis, sold by Goodspeed's c.1940 to Frank T. Siebert.
Acquisition: Siebert sale, Sotheby's New York, May 21, 1999, lot 18, $1,840.
Sold for
US$ 5,490
inc. premium
Footnotes
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Books
/
Books, Maps and Manuscripts
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