Cartwright, George

3 volumes, 4to (11 7/8 x 9 1/4 in.; 300 x 240 mm). Engraved portrait frontispiece of the author by T. Medland after W. Hilton, 3 charts on 2 folding engraved plates, 6 pp. subscribers' list in vol. I, 8 pp. glossary of Canadian words (repeated in each volume), vol. III with 14 pp. "Labrador: A Poetical Epistle," head- and tailpieces; closed tear to 2nd folding plate (vol. I), p. 273 misnumbered but all present, minor stain to p. 129 (vol. III), small open tear to margin of pp. 215-16 (vol. III). Contemporary full acid-washed calf, spine with raised bands in six compartments, red morocco labels with gilt text to second compartments, black labels with gilt volume numbers to fourth, other ruled in gilt, all edges speckled in blue; joints weak, extremities rubbed, corners bumped will loss to calf, some loss to spines, labels with volume numbers chipped.   

Sir William Forbes (armorial bookplates to front pastedowns). Forbes, 6th Baronet of Monymusk and Pitsligo FRSE (1739 - 1806) was a Scottish banker, philanthropist, and writer.

Sabin 11150; Lande 106; Staton and Tremaine 586

FIRST EDITION. George Cartwright was a former British army officer sent out by Bristol merchants to trade with the Canadian Eskimos. Over the years, he made six expeditions to Labrador and Newfoundland and here gives a detailed account of the fur trade, natural history, and of the Eskimos and Indians encountered. Of particular interest is the extensive glossary of words peculiar to Canadian life. The work was held in high esteem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge: "The annals of his campaigns among the foxes and beavers, interested me more than ever did the exploits of Marlborough or Frederick; besides I saw plain truth and the heart of Cartwright's book."