CHAMPLAIN, Samuel de. (1567-1635). Les Voyages de la Nouvelle France occidentale,dicte Canada, faits par le Sr Champlain Xainctongeois, Capitaine pour le Roy en la Marinedu Ponant

CHAMPLAIN, Samuel de. (1567-1635). Les Voyages de la Nouvelle France occidentale,dicte Canada, faits par le Sr Champlain Xainctongeois, Capitaine pour le Roy en la Marinedu Ponant, & toutes les Descouvertes qu'il a faites en ce pais depuis l'an 1603, jusques enl’an 1629. Paris: chez Louis Sevestre, 1632.3 parts in one volume. 4to., (9 x 6 ¼ in.; 22.8 x 15.9 cm.). With the rare double sheet engravedmap "Carte De La Nouvelle France 1632" (54 x 21 ½ in.; 137.1 x 54.6 cm.) to the neat line);small tear near the gutter, one long but unobtrusive repaired tear across the top half, a little lightspotting. 6 engravings in the text, one large woodcut map and one woodcut text diagram, withnumerous woodcut head-pieces and initials; some foxing and browning, scattered light spotting,faint dampstaining to upper margins of most leaves, extending into text of approximately 30,some small stains on G4-H3 of part I obscuring up to 7 letters, marginal repairs to T4 of part Iand G3 of part II, the latter affecting the text with 9 letters supplied in facsimile, 3 tinywormholes to Z1 & 2 of part II, affecting 10 letters. 17th century calf , ruled in gilt, with giltarms of Claude Du Sauzay, Seigneur de Varennes and Conseiller du Roi on covers (Olivier2383), spine in five compartments with raised bands, gilt-titled in the second, gilt double rule anddevice in remaining compartments; covers lightly skinned, joints rubbed, ends of raised bandsexposed, inner hinges weak.PROVENANCE: Claude du Sauzay, Seigneur de Varennes (binding); two largely effaced19th-century French bookplates; Pierre S. Du Pont III; his sale, Christie's New York, 8 October,1991, lot 39; engraved bookplate of Bruce McKinney, founder of Americana Exchange andbibliophile, on the front paste-down, his sale Bloomsbury Auctions, New York, 3rd December2009, lot 69.THE DUPONT COPY, of the second issue, A PRIMARY WORK ENCOURAGING THECOLONIZATION OF NEW FRANCE, WITH THE RARE FOLDING MAP, the first to depictthe entire great lakes chain and the first collected edition of Champlain's voyages. This issue hasthe cancelled leaves D2-3 replacing the offensive passage regarding Richelieu. The work waspublished to promote the claims on New France in Louis XIII's court at a critical time, as Francewas seeking to legitimize its claims in North America. It describes all of the preceding Frenchexpeditions as well as Champlain's own nine voyages to the New World, with a history ofCanada from 1619 to 1632 and a treatise on navigation (bound in at the end in this copy). "Thiswork gives us the first accurate accounts we have of the Indians of the interior of the presentState of New York The most remarkable event in Indian history was caused by Champlain's firstvisit to the shores of the lake bearing his name. In a conflict between the two named races ofsavages, he gave the victory to his friends the Abnaquis, by the use of his musket. The Iroquoisnever forgave the injury, and thousands of Frenchmen were slaughtered to avenge it. The SixNations always fought with the English against their enemies, and twice nearly destroyed theFrench colonies with their warriors alone" (Field 268, Sevestre imprint). The map covers thesame territory as Champlain's earlier cartographic landmark of 1616, but in much more exactdetail in land features. Fischer believes the change in focus is primarily away from the map as asea chart for navigation, with more emphasis placed on the land to encourage colonization, withFrench settlements and missions all carefully marked. The present map extends as far south asthe Virginia colonies. Here the Hudson is called "Riuere des trettes" and Long Island "Isle del'Ascension." European Americana 632/22; Burden 237; Church 420; Field 268 (Silvestreimprint); Fischer. Champlain's Dream; Harrisse 51; Lande 118 (map in facsimile); Streeter saleVI:3621. Bookseller Inventory # 002390Price: $1,200,000.