AN IMPORTANT EARLY ACCOUNT OF AMERICAN EXPLORATION: HENNEPIN’S VOYAGE CURIEUX, WITH IMPORTANT EARLY MAPS AND VIEWS

HENNEPIN, Father Louis. Voyage Curieux du R. P. Louis Hennepin, Missionaire Recollect, & Notaire Apostolique. WITH: De La Borde, Sieur. Voyage Qui Contient un Relation Exacte de l’Origin, Moeurs, Coûtumes, Réligion, Cuerres & Voyages des Caraibes, Sauvages des Isles Antilles de l’Ameriqe. Leide: Pierre Vander Aa, 1704. 12mo, early full speckled brown calf rebacked with original elaborately gilt-decorated spine laid down, raised bands, all edges marbled. Housed in a custom clamshell box.    $4800.

Early edition of Hennepin’s important account of his American exploration, with engraved frontispiece, two large folding maps and six folding copper-engraved plates, including a view of Niagara Falls and a depiction of a Buffalo, together with the first edition of De La Borde’s account of his travels in the Caribbean.

One of the most famous explorers in the wilds of North America during the 17th century, Louis Hennepin was born in Belgium and entered the Catholic Church in his youth. He was sent to Canada in 1675 as a member of expedition under the command of La Salle, who had recently been appointed to the governorship of Fort Frontenac in the French dominions. Hennepin served as a missionary in Quebec while the expedition underwent preparations. “During his period of residence at Quebec, Hennepin employed his leisure time with great industry in travelling to regions within twenty or thirty leagues of that city… always with a view to learning the languages and customs of the Indians as to prepare himself for missionary labors among the savages of the North American continent. He was an acute observer, and his books contain most minute and accurate descriptions of the characteristics, arts and customs of the Indians.”

In 1678, the expedition under La Salle departed, sailing from the Niagara River. They reached the mouth of the Detroit River by August and Green Bay by September. They continued on their journey throughout the winter months and constructed Fort Crevecoeur on the shore of Lake Peoria. “Early in his journey Hennepin passed Niagara Falls and thus became the first European to describe the natural wonder.” In 1680 Hennepin was dispatched by La Salle with two others “to proceed down the Illinois River, and then up the Mississippi River as far as possible upon a voyage of discovery.” Leaving in February, Hennepin and his party soon reached the Mississippi and turned northwards. “On 12 April they were captured by a band of the Issati Sioux… Hennepin’s captors were on their way to make war against the Miamis and the Illinois, but abandoned their design after capturing the three explorers. They travelled 19 days… Whenever the Indians moved about from place to place, according to their nomadic inclinations, they carried with them Hennepin and the two other captives. During one of their excursions the wanderers stopped at the great cataract in the Mississippi which is now encircled by the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and which still bears the name of St. Anthony Falls, given to it by Hennepin” (Catholic Encyclopedia). Eventually Hennepin and his party met the great French explorer Daniel Graysolon Du Lhut, who interceded on their behalf with the Indians and secured their release. They accompanied Du Lhut and his followers down the Mississippi to the mouth of the Wisconsin, and eventually they made their way to back to Quebec.

Hennepin returned to Europe and published his first account of his adventures in Paris in 1683. Another work followed in 1697, and yet another in 1698; both of these were published in English in 1698. Hennepin’s works were of tremendous popularity and value, although he has been accused of embellishing his accomplishments in the later works. “Hennepin was the first to describe the Niagara Falls, and although his books were famous, his too-easy adoption of tales and stories discredited his accounts. His maps of the French territories were among the best of the period. His misshapen Great Lakes embodied some of the most advanced information of the time” (America Explored, 155). “One of the most significant contributions to the early exploration of North America” (Bonham). This edition, an early reprint of the 1697 Nouvelle Decourverte, includes the first publication of De La Borde’s account of his travels in the West Indies. In addition to the two important maps, Voyage Curieux has six folding plates, including one of an American bison and one of Niagara Falls. Variant issue, with Leide imprint. Howes H416. Sabin 31353. Wing H1450. Church 772. Field 685. Graff 1864. Streeter 106.

Text and plates in excellent condition, with one small closed tear to one map and minor marginal wormholing; joints of early calf binding a bit tender, but cords holding firm. An exceptionally attractive copy of an important work.