A Description of Louisiana, by Father Louis Hennepin, Recollect Missionary.

SHEA, John Gilmary.

Item Number: 143219

New York: John G. Shea, 1880.

First edition in English, limited issue of Hennepin’s first book Description de Louisiane, the first report of Niagara Falls and the headwaters of the Mississippi River above the Wisconsin River. Royal octavo, bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, patterned endpapers, engraved folding map with tape repair. One of 250 numbered copies, this is number 76. Bradford 2251; Sabin 80023. Provenance: Bookplate of William L. Clements to the pastedown. In very good condition. Robert Clark broadsheet advertisement for the book laid tipped in.

Louis Hennepin was a Jesuit missionary and explorer 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 Saint Anthony in 1680. Hennepin returned to France and quickly published Description de Louisiane using own journals and also the uncredited manuscript journal of Abbé Claude Bernous.