Journal of Voyages and Travels in the Interiour of North America, Between the 47th and 58th Degrees of North Latitude, Extending from Montreal Nearly to the Pacific Ocean, a Distance of About 5,000 Miles, Including an Account of the Principal Occurrences, During a Residence of Nineteen Years, in Different Parts of the Country. To Which Are Added, a Concise Description of the Face of the Country, Its Inhabitants, Their Manners, Customs, Laws, Religion, Etc. and Considerable Specimens of the Two Languages, Most Extensively Spoken; Together with an Account of the Principal Animals, to Be Found in the Forests and Prairies of the Extensive Region. Illustrated by a Map of the Country.

Harmon, Daniel Williams; Haskel, Daniel (Editor)

Published by Flagg and Gould, Andover, MA, 1820

About this Item

Lacks errata. Repair to map. Contemporary brown full leather binding. Gilt lettering on red leather spine label. In a marbled paper-covered clamshell box backed with brown leather. Gilt lettering on spine of box. Beautiful marbling features many colors; overall pink color palette. Book measures 5" x 8 1/2." Box measures 5 3/4" x 9 1/4." 432 pages, complete. One black-and-white engraved frontispiece portrait of Harmon and one black-and-white folding map, complete. "Printed by Flagg and Gould." Three markings from a former owner, Jacob Smith, Jr., on front free endpaper (signature in black ink dated 1831), a front flyleaf (black stamp), and top margin (black-ink signature in black ink) of frontispiece, not affecting text or illustrations. Pages are clean and intact overall but have slight darkening, foxing throughout, the occasional dampstain, and offsetting from frontispiece and map on facing pages. Covers have slight rubbing and a few scratches to front and back and slight wear to corners, edges, and outer joints. Binding is tight. Box is virtually pristine and intact. A Very Good copy. The famous autobiographical account of Daniel Williams Harmon (1778-1843), a fur trader. Harmon relays his personal experiences as well as typical frontier life in the Canadian Northwest between Quebec and the Northwest Coast. Notably, Daniel Haskel (of Burlington, Vermont) edited parts of Harmon's work that he deemed controversial so they would have a more religious bent. Excerpt from Field, no. 656: "This journal purports to have been only revised and published by Mr. Daniel Haskell, but he is said to have introduced religious reflections not made by the author. Harmon's narrative of events and peculiarities among the Indian tribes is believed by those familiar with him, and the regions he visited, to be correct; but the life of a fur-trader . was not favorable to religious emotions. . A copious vocabulary of the Cree and Knistenaw language is given on pp. 385-413. The journal of events in his life as an Indian trader, terminates at page 273, and two subdivisions entitled 'Account of the Indians living East of the Rocky Mountains,' and 'Account of the Indians living West of the Rocky Mountains,' are evidently written by another hand, perhaps from Harmon's dictation." Beautiful black-and-white folding map included, which shows Canada and the northern United States to the Pacific Ocean. This map is significant for being the first documented map engraved by Annin & Smith, an engraving company in Boston.

Seller Inventory # 024346

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Journal of Voyages and Travels in the Interiour of North America, Between the 47th and 58th Degrees of North Latitude, Extending from Montreal Nearly to the Pacific Ocean, a Distance of About 5,000 Miles, Including an Account of the Principal Occurrences, During a Residence of Nineteen Years, in Different Parts of the Country. To Which Are Added, a Concise Description of the Face of the Country, Its Inhabitants, Their Manners, Customs, Laws, Religion, Etc. and Considerable Specimens of the Two ...
• Publisher: Flagg and Gould, Andover, MA
• Publication Date: 1820
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Canada
  • Western Americana
  • Travels and Voyages