Travels Through the Canadas, Containing a Description of the Picturesque Scenery on some of the Rivers and Lakes; with an Account of the Productions, Commerce, and Inhabitants of those Provinces. To Which is Subjoined a Comparative View of the Manners and Customs of Several of the Indian Nations of North and South America

London: Richard Phillips, c. 1807. A fine and handsome example of this scarce hand coloured version. Text and plates are clean and crisp. . Edition: First Edition., Binding: Contemporary marbled calf, rebacked. Gilt ruled border on covers. Spine in six compartments of raised bands. Gilt text on morocco label on 2. Gilt ornamentation on all compartments. All edges speckled. , Notes: “The Scotsman Heriot was postmaster-general of British North America (Upper Canada) from 1799 to 1816. He took his orders directly from London, so there was usually friction with the colonial governors. Heriot devoted himself a good deal to travel into the western parts of Canada and the U.S. It is impossible to tell just where he traveled, as his personal narrative is merged with other accounts. However, all of are interest, and his book has a wealth of detail and is full of information on the fur trade, voyages to the North, Indians of the North and West, Eskimos, and the cod fishery. One authority calls this book “the most complete description of British America which has ever been published.” Heriot was an accomplished artist and painted and sketched scenery and Indians all over the West. The many fine illustrations in this volume are taken from his own work. Indeed, this is the earliest and most important aquatint book published on Canada. The second part of the book is a scholarly study of the Indians of both North and South America. Heriot had access to the documents and books at the fine library of the Jesuits at Quebec, which he had used to publish a history of Canada in 1804. He made use of these unique materials to compile an in-depth study of Indian governments, customs, religions linguistics, and agriculture. The role of the Jesuits in America was also studied. Sabin states: “Part second contains a minute description of the peculiarities of various nations of American Aborigines, principally derived from other printed works.” (Hill), Size: 4to (260x205mm)., Illustration: Complete with 27 finely hand-coloured plates and 1 hand-coloured folding map. , References: Hill 801; Sabin 31489; Abbey 618 (plates only), Pages: P. blank, frontis, title, preface (iii-vi), contents (vii-xii), 1-602, plate list, blank. , Category: Book Voyages General; Book Plate Books Colour; Book Canada