[CHAMPLAIN, SAMUEL DE]
Les voyages du sieur de Champlain xaintongeois, capitaine ordinaire pour le Roy, en la marine. Divisez en deux livres. ou, journal tres-fidele des observations faites es descouuertures de la nouuelle France... Paris: Jean Berjon, 1613. First edition of the second published account of Champlain's voyages. Two parts in one, bound in 17th century French brown calf, all edges red, protected in a cloth slipcase and chemise. 8 7/8 x 6 5/8 inches (22.75 x 17 cm); (xx), 325, (5), 52 pp.; collating á^(4) é^(4) í^(2) A-2S^(4), Tt1 (a singleton, as the Bibliotheque Nationale copy--this was likely issued conjugate with a blank before the title for the fourth part) a-f^(4) g^(2); the 8 copperplate-engraved folding maps, including the large Carte Geographique de la Nouvelle Franse Faictte... are all present, together with the 13 in-text engravings and a woodcut diagram; the three engraved folding plates are lacking and laid-in in facsimile. The binding, which appears to be of the period (or shortly after) is worn and has been restored in several areas with inlays, and has likely been rebacked with the spine unobtrusively and expertly laid-down. The front hinge has separated at the endpaper exposing the cords, but the sewing is firm and the cords sound. The text is variously toned with some soiling on á3 verso, also with other minor defects (we note a small loss to the lower margin between P1 and R2, several small ink burns touching letters on 2K2, etc.). Marginal worm damage has been restored between M1 and O3; this impacts a corner of one in-text plate, in the area of the sky. The large folding map has restorations, and the two naked figures in the cartouche panel at the left have been excised without loss to the geographical portion of the map; this section has been restored with old paper on the map verso, and there are additionally several small losses to this map from wear and tear, some neat restoration to the folds etc. The in-text plates on A4 and B1 have ink-spots (in both cases the naked male figures have been inked over). Reportedly this copy was found in a convent and the defacements of naked figures and the removal of the plates were made by the nuns or on their behalf; as an old catalogue description in the book delightfully states, this was likely done as "they were thought not proper mental food for the nuns and were so removed." Several other folding maps have neat restorations, small marginal ink annotations, etc. The title page bears two ink stamps with the IHS christogram; this supports the statement that this copy was in a religious institution. The title also has a name in ink (indistinct) at the foot. The large bookplate of Richard Bayard Dominick is tipped-in by the upper corners to the front pastedown.

This is a crucially important Americanum, with accounts of Champlain's voyages to America between 1604 and 1613. The large two-sheet map, prepared in Paris in 1612 and present here, is absent in many of the extant copies; as Burden notes it is very rare. It exists in but a single state, and was never reissued. He notes "Although often lacking from the book, the map is the first to indicate a chain of Great Lakes, Lake Champlain and Montreal." Champlain's efforts were crucial in establishing a French presence in the New World. Again Burden: "The work was part of the overall plan to gain as much support as possible for the fledgling colony. It is interesting to note that Champlain relies only on his own knowledge and that of the native Indians for his geography. Other European sources that he had not substantiated he depicted with honesty and care. Particularly noticeable are the northern shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Maritimes marked with the legend L'auteur na point encorre recognu sette coste. Montreal is shown just a year after Champlain set up a trading post there. However, it was not to be permanently occupied until 1642. The area further upriver is derived from Indian sources. Lake Ontario, depicted quite accurately, is marked Lac Contenant 15 lournees des canaux des sauuages. At the western end of the lake is sault de au, the first reference on a printed map to Niagara Falls.
The other large map, the Carte geographique de la Nouelle franse en son vray moridia is almost as scarce as its larger companion, and is also singularly important. "The map related the numerous voyages of Champlain to 1611, and of the English further to the north. Most particularly recorded is the discovery by Henry Hudson of the bay named after him. It is noted on the map, with the legend noticeably in English, the bay wher hudson did winter. In this map's second state it also records Champlain's voyage during 1613 some distance up the Ottawa River. This map has both latitude and longitude, "something virtually never attempted before on a North American map of such detail. Champlain's acute awareness of the deviation of the compass enables him to portray the St. Lawrence River in its more correct south-west to north-east flow rather than the more usual west to east'' (vide Burden). This is the second and most complete state of the map, (which is in exceptionally attractive condition, a strong impression) i.e. with the course of the Ottawa, the sea monster at upper right and the 1613 date. Alden & Landis 613/60; Burden 160-161, 166-181; Church 360; JCB (3) II:93; Lande 116; Sabin 11835; Streeter sale VI:3630 etc.