[Americana]. BOSSU (Jean-Bernard). Nouveaux voyages aux Inde - Lot 226

[Americana]. BOSSU (Jean-Bernard). Nouveaux voyages aux Indes Occidentales, contenant une Relation des différents Peuples qui habitent les environs du grand Fleuve Saint-Louis appelé vulgairement le Mississipi Paris, chez Le Jay, 1768. 2 vols. in-12, frontis. XX-244 p., 1 pl. gravé ; [3] f. (fx. titre, frontis. gravé, titre), 264 p. 1 plate, contemporary fawn half-basin, smooth spine, brown title-piece and tomaison, double gilt fillet (flaws including rubbed boards, one headband removed, front board rebacked with small stains, cut-out filled in at foot of title, wetness to title and corners of t.2 plate slightly affecting the image). Rare first edition, Sabin cites the second edition and states: I find no trace of the first edition. Important work containing very interesting details on the customs of the natives of North America, notably the Natchez, the Illinois and Arkansas peoples. It is one of the best descriptions of Louisiana. It is illustrated with 4 copper-engraved plates by Ch. Beurlier, after Gabriel de Saint-Aubin, including 1 frontispiece for each part. (Chadenat, 23; Sabin, 6465).