"The most important and authoritative work on the early French settlements in North America and especially in Canada" - Lande.
With an Important Early Map of Canada
Very rare first edition of Lescarbot's account of the early settlements of Canada. Lescarbot's work is one of the most important early works on the first French settlements in North America. Lescarbot includes accounts of the voyages of Verrazano, Laudonnière, Gourgues, Villegagnon, Cartier, Roberval, De Monts, Poutrin-court, and the first voyages of Champlain. Lescarbot was a Protestant lawyer who spent more than a year in America as part of the expedition that founded Port Royal in Nova Scotia, arriving in 1606. The book was published to encourage settlement in the New World. During the second New England voyage Lescarbot was left in charge of the Port Royal colony.
This very important and reliable work on the early French settlements in Canada is divided into three books: the first gives an account of the voyages of Verrazano, Laudonniere, Gourgues, and Villegagnon; the second contains the voyages of Cartier, Roberval, De Monts, Poutrincourt, and the first voyages of Champlain; and the third contains an interesting description of the manners and customs of the Indians - Church.
Interestingly, Thomas Field suggested that the present 1609 first edition of Lescarbot was complete with two maps, however most authorities call for three maps. "All of the French editions, as well as the translation of a part of that of 1609 into English by Erondelle, are very rare... That of 1609 is thought to be complete with only two maps" - Field, describing 1618 ed. He continues:
Lescarbot's history is highly esteemed not only for its great veracity, but as the work of a candid and intelligent writer, and the first history of the French settlements in Canada... His descriptions of Indian Life and peculiarities are very interesting, an account both of their fidelity, and from being among the first authentic relations, we have of them after Cartier.
The First Detailed Map of Canada (and the Coast of New England)
Lescarbot's seminal map is the first detailed map of Canada and New England (extending south to Cape Cod) based on a systematic exploration of the area.
Although drawn primarily from a 1607 manuscript map by Champlain, Lescarbot's map was printed three years prior to the first edition of Champlain's map. In addition, as pointed out in Mapping Boston, Lescarbot's was the first map to show Cape Cod. Also, several important place names appeared on the map for the first time, including Kebec (Quebex), Kinibeki (Kennebec), and P. Royal (Port Royal).
The map extends up the St. Lawrence River as far as the Indian village Hochelaga (now Montreal). The first trading post in Canada, founded in 1600 at Tadoussac, is shown at the mouth of the R. de Saguenay and just next to that is the River Lesquemin mistakenly named in reverse. Kebec is shown here for the first time on a printed map in its Micmac form, meaning the narrows of the river. The New England coastline on this map closely follows Champlain's manuscript of the area, which is dated 1607, and now resides at the Library of Congress (Burden 157).
Lescarbot records Champlain's explorations in 1605 and 1606 along the eastern seaboard of North America as far south as Cape Cod, specifically Stage Harbor in Chatham. The purpose of this voyage was to scout the warmer locales south of the St. Lawrence River for advantageous areas for settlement. In so doing, Champlain remained for some time at places that showed promise, especially those with good harbors, and sketched charts of these areas in some detail.
The First Dramatic Production in North America
According to Lande, the Les Muses de la Nouvelle France (bound at the end here, as usual), includes a work that is considered the first dramatic production in North America: Le Theatre de Neptune en la Nouvelle-France. Performed at Port Royal in Acadia, November 14, 1606.
States
States of Lescarbot's Map
The important Lescarbot map of Canada is present here in the second state, per Burden.
The map of Canada is known in two states:
- 1609 - Sable Island below C. Breton, with name appearing horizontally.
- 1618 - Sable Island moved further south and the shape changed, with "Ile de Sable" printed vertically.
Provenance
Typographic book label on title: "Chassaigne de Franc Séjour." This is a 15th Century castle. Chassaigne is the family name. The most likely owner was Jean Bouillet de la Chassaigne (1654 - 1733), also known as Jean-Baptiste, a French military officer and colonial administrator in New France, serving as governor of Trois-Rivières (1726–1730) and of Montreal (1730–1733). He bgan his military career in the Régiment de Navarre in 1672, rising to lieutenant before joining the Régiment de Condé as captain in 1677. Transferred to Canada in 1687, he commanded a company of colonial regulars and later Fort Lachine during the 1690 defense. His naval service followed, culminating in his promotion to sub-lieutenant in 1695.
In 1699, La Chassaigne married Marie-Anne Le Moyne, daughter of the Baron de Longueuil, aligning himself with one of New France’s most prominent families. His administrative career advanced steadily: town major of Montreal (1710), recipient of the Cross of Saint-Louis (1711), town major of Quebec (1716), and king’s lieutenant at Montreal (1720). He held successive governorships until his death in Montreal at age 78.