(Early Americana) Lettres d'un Cultivateur Américain addressées

Lettres d'un Cultivateur Américain addressées à Wm. S.on Esq. depuis l'Année 1770 jusqu'en 1786. [3 Volume Set with maps]

Book Description: Chez Cuchet, Paris, 1787. Original Leather. Book Condition: Very Good. Third French Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Matching set in original leather with raised bands and gilt lettered red spine titles, marbled endsheets, all edges red. Octavo, 3 volumes. Volume 1: xxxii, 478, [2] table plus folding map and 2 engraved plates; Volume 2: 438, [6] lists and tables plus 3 folding maps; and Volume 3: 592 plus folding map (3 maps on 1 sheet) and folding engraved plate. *** Contents: Crevecoeur was a French-born surveyor who settled in New York, where he produced this classic collection of twelve essays that reflected on the nature of American life, particularly its customs and manners. His description of bountiful American lands spurred many French people to immigrate to America. Of special interest, the book contains letters concerning observations of life on the islands of Nantucket and Marthas's Vineyard, each accompanied by a folding map, which are generally considered to provide the first detailed depictions of these islands. The large folding general map illustrates the region from Montreal and the lower end of Lake Huron to the North Carolina border, and from the Falls of the Ohio to Narragansett Bay. It is based on Thomas Jefferys' version of Lewis Evan's seminal map of 1755. *** Condition: Exteriors rubbed with slight edgewear; leather a bit dry but not flaky or powdery. Hinges intact and sound, bindings tight. Interiors clean with minimal foxing to text and maps. Small round owner ink stamp discretely placed in lower left corner of last page in all volumes. Penciled number on title page of Volume 1, but no other markings present. Gutter tear to map in Volume 1. Evans General map, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard maps all very nice.