Lot 21: HENNEPIN, LOUIS. 1640-1705? Description de la Louisiane, nouvellement decouverte au Sud-Oüest de la Nouvelle France. Paris: widow of Sebastien Hure, 1683.

Description de la Louisiane, nouvellement decouverte au Sud-Oüest de la Nouvelle France. Paris: widow of Sebastien Hure, 1683.
2 parts in 1 volume. [12], 312; 107 pp. Folding engraved map: Carte de la nouuelle France et de la Louisiane, engraved by Roussel and with a cartouche by N. Guerard, 298 x 485 mm. 12mo (151 x 89 mm). Period blindstamped calf, red morocco lettering-piece; folding buckram box. Pale toning at gutter margin near ends, υ1R gathering working loose, υ1B7 with paper flaw affecting 3 letters, υ2A4 with blank corner torn away, map with 1½" repaired stub tear into image and 3 tiny repairs at fold intersections, recornered and rebacked with old spine laid down, covers rubbed.

FIRST EDITION, WITH A FINE COPY OF THE RARE AND IMPORTANT MAP, the first to name Louisiana. Hennepin was a Jesuit missionary among the Iroquois until he joined La Salle's expedition as chaplain. He led the advance party which founded Fort Tonti on the Niagara River and is well-remembered as the first European to describe Niagara Falls. Hennepin rejoined La Salle to descend the Illinois to its confluence with the Mississippi and then to trek up the Mississippi and become the first European discoverer of the Falls of St Anthony in 1680. Hennepin returned to France and quickly published the present work using own journals and also the uncredited manuscript journal of Abbé Claude Bernous.
Ayer 127; Bell H114; Clements One Hundred Michigan Rarities 5; European Americana 683/96; Greenly 8; Harrisse NF 150; Howes H415; Howgego H62; Jones 330; Sabin 31347; Schwartz & Ehrenberg p 130; Staton & Tremaine/TPL 81; Streeter sale 102; Streit II:2721; Vail 222; Wheat Transmississippi West 62.
Acquisition: Siebert sale, Sotheby's New York, Oct 28, 1999, lot 660, $48,875.

THE FIRST PUBLISHED DESCRIPTION OF LOUISIANA; THE FIRST REPORT OF NIAGARA FALLS AND THE FIRST ACCOUNT OF THE HEADWATERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI ABOVE THE WISCONSIN.