Journal Of A Voyage On The North West Coast Of North America During The Years 1811, 1812, 1813, And 1814.

GABRIEL FRANCHERE

Publication: The Champlain Society, 1969, Toronto

First edition. Cloth, 330pp. + i-xix, 4 plates, 3 maps, index. Edited and lengthy introduction by W. Kaye Lamb. Gabriel Franchere joined John J. Astor's fur trade expedition to the mouth of the Columbia River aboard the Tonquin arriving at the mouth of the Columbia in March, 1811. Franchere became clerk of the new fur trade post, Astoria, which they built on the south side of the Columbia. Unlike all other chroniclers of the Astorian venture, Franchere was actually at this important post when it was founded, when it was sold to the North West Co. in late 1813, and when it was seized by the British as a territorial conquest. Franchere left shortly after, traveling up the Columbia River by canoe, then overland to Montreal where he arrived in September, 1814. The original painting of Franchere's journals was in French in 1820, with the first English language edition in 1854. Both of these editions were liberally edited, and embellished in the manner of their day. This Champlain Society edition is important as the first edition to present Franchere's manuscript journals, unadorned, in French and in direct English translation. Very slight sunning to spine, else a fine, bright copy of this important work. Previous owners name on front free-endpaper.