Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - June - 2004 Issue
North American Exploration<br>From Helen R. Kahn Rare Books
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Another of the more famed travel books is Washington Irving’s Astoria. Item 30 is the first issue, first state of this classic. $1,800. Less well known is The Rambler in North America: 1832-1833 by Charles Joseph Latrobe. Latrobe accompanied Irving on his journeys and provides a detailed look at Indian life and other observations from his travels. Item 37. $875.
Item 8 is T.D. Bonner's The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckwourth, Mountaineer, Scout, and Pioneer, and Chief of the Crow Nation of Indians. Actually, exaggerator would also be an appropriate title for Beckwourth. Born a slave to an English father and slave mother, he was granted his freedom by his father who treated him as the son he was. Wanderlust would lead Beckwourth into the mountains in the employ of the fur companies. It was there he would witness or take part in the events that would be the subject of the tales he told Bonner. However, while Beckwourth was prone to exaggeration, much of what is written about is based on fact, including his many years with the Crow Nation, even if not as the head chief. $800. There is an interesting, though incomplete website about Beckwourth at the following address: http:www.beckwourth.org.
There are books from many other early travelers as well: John and William Bartram, Johnathan Carver, Ross Cox, David Coyner, and Gabriel Franchere to name a few. Helen R Kahn & Associates Rare Books may be found on the web at www.hrkahnbooks.com or reached at their home in Montreal at phone number 514-844-5344.
