SCHEFFER (Johannes Gerhard).Histoire de la Laponie, sa description, l'origine, les mœurs, la manière de vivre de ses habitans, leur Religion, leur Magie, & les choses rares du Païs. Avec plusieurs Additions & Augmentations fort curieuses, qui jusqu'icy n'ont pas été imprimées.Paris : Veuve Olivier de Varennes, 1678. - In-4, 239 x 180 : frontispiece, (7 ff.), 408 pp. 1 map, 21 plates. Brown calf, spine ribbed and decorated, spotted edges (contemporary binding).Caillet, 9954. French first edition, dedicated to the Swedish baron Charles Bonde, translated from Latin by Auguste Lubin and Richelet, of this historical work on the Lapps. Born in Strasbourg, Johannes Gerhard Scheffer (1621-1679) settled in Sweden under the patronage of Queen Christine, who appointed him librarian and then professor of eloquence and law at Uppsala. In this work he devoted himself to studying the Sami (Lapps), describing in detail their way of life and their innovative techniques, such as the use of asymmetrical skis (one short for manoeuvring, one long for speed). His observations are among the first of their kind, and provide invaluable insight into Nordic cultures in the 17th century. Part of the book is devoted to magic. According to Caillet: "The magic of the Lapps is meticulously studied [...] with numerous magical figures in support. The reproduction of magical tombs, covered with kabbalistic signs, adds a most suggestive document to this work". The edition is illustrated with a fine frontispiece, seven figures in the text and 21 plates, all engraved on copper. There is also a fold-out map of Lapland, drawn up on the basis of mathematicians' observations by Augustin Lubin and engraved specially for this edition by René Michault. A good copy in contemporary binding, one of the few to include chapter II (pages 3-4) in two states, one ending with "qu'on en fit en M. D. C.", the other with "relevoit de sa Couronne". The added leaf has been bound after the privilege. Some rubbing and wear, old label of a private library, glued at the top of the spine. Angular tear to the frontispiece, not missing and without damage to the engraving. Provenance: Madame de Fanalete, with her name on the first endpaper and on the frontispiece.