Travels Through the Interior Parts of North America in 1766, 1767, and 1768. By J. Carver, Esq. Captain of a Company of Provincial Troops During the Late War With France. Illustrated with Copper Plates. The Second edition.

His journey led him further northwest than any other English traveler had been before

With the plate of the Tobacco plant

Octavo. 8 ½ x 5 inches. Pp. [24], xvi, [17]-543, [1]. Complete with 2 folding maps and 5 engraved plates. Handsomly rebound in three-quarter black leather over marbled boards. Five raised bands on spine, blind embossed decoration and gilt lettering. One map hand colored. Early owner's signature at top of tile page. A fine and exceptionally clean copy with minor toning to the first two leaves.

Second edition. Very scarce. This edition contains the two leaves of "Address to the Public" and the elusive, uncalled for, plate of the Tobacco plant. A classic narrative, unrivalled in the literature of early native American travel. Carver set out from Boston in 1766 to explore the territory beyond the Mississippi and to find a north-west passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. His 7,000 mile journey led him further northwest than any other English traveler had been before the Revolution. The work contains one of the earliest descriptions of what is now Minnesota and Wisconsin and the name "Oregon" appears in print here for the first time. Carver made important contributions to the mapping of the region and the knowledge of its natural history. His findings contributed to the geographical knowledge of the country and influenced Mackenzie and Lewis and Clark. Indian life and customs are described with great detail, particularly their methods of warfare. Included are short vocabularies of the Chippeway and Naudowessie languages. The folding maps include one of all of North America, and another showing, in detail, the headwaters of the Mississippi and the surrounding country, including lakes Michigan and Superior, and the land as far west as the Dakotas. [Graff: 622; Howes I: C-215; Howes II: C-218; Sabin: 11184; Streeter: 1772].