[AMERICANA]. BARBE MARBOIS, Francois, Marquis de (1745-1837). The History of Louisiana, Particularly of the Cession of that colony to the United States of America. Philadelphia: Carey & Lea, 1830.
8vo (224 x 136 mm). 1p. errata. (Some light toning and spotting.) Contemporary half black roan, spine gilt-lettered (front cover detaching, minor losses to spine, some fading). Provenance: Dudley Bell Priester (1923-2017), Mississippi River collector and bibliographer (sold Bloomsbury, 20 November 2009, lot 60).
FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH, translated from the first edition of 1829 in French. "Barbé-Marbois represented France in the preliminary negotiations with the United States on the Louisiana Purchase and his book is one of the main sources on that subject. It shows that in the claim by the United States in the negotiations with Great Britain, that the northern boundary of Louisiana included the area now comprised in Oregon, Washington and Idaho was without foundation" (Streeter). Howes B-115 (first edition); Sabin 3307; Streeter Sale III: 1600.
Property from the Collection of Perry B. Hansen
This lot is located in Chicago.