HERIOT (George). 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. London, Richard Phillips, 1807. In-4, blond calf, gilt lace, coat of arms in centre, spine decorated with a repeating motif, inner lace, gilt edges (Simier). First edition. The illustration includes a fold-out map enhanced with watercolour and 27 plates out of text engraved with aquatint after the author's drawings, including a fold-out frontispiece view of Quebec and five other fold-out views. "This is the earliest and most important aquatint book published on Canada. The second part of this book is a scholarly study ot the Indians of both North and South America." (Hill). The Scotsman George Heriot (1766-1844) used the unique documentation in the Jesuit library in Quebec City to publish a history of Canada in 1804 and compose this highly accomplished study of the government, customs, religions and languages of the Amerindians. An Algonquin vocabulary appears on pp. 579-599 of this work. Copy of Baron James de Rothschild, finely bound in his coat of arms by René Simier, with his armorial bookplate and that of the Château de Ferrières. Hinges and headpieces restored; engravings transferred to the text. Hill, n°801 - Sabin, n°31489.