Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - February - 2006 Issue
The Americas from Helen Kahn Rare Books
Sebastian Cabot, the explorer.
Here is a unique book recounting the discovery of America by...Sebastian Cabot! The book is, The Remarkable Life, Adventures and Discoveries of Sebastian Cabot, of Bristol, the Founder of Great Britain's Maritime Power, Discoverer of America, and its First Colonizer. Author J.F. Nicholls might have made a more convincing case if he had picked an earlier date than 1494 for Cabot's discovery of America; say...1491. You may be wondering how the burly British actor of "Family Affair" discovered America, but we can assure you this was a different Sebastian Cabot. Not a lot is known about this one, but evidently his father, John, journeyed east from England and discovered Newfoundland, probably in 1497. Sebastian may or may not have accompanied him on that journey. John died in 1498, but Sebastian later recalled traveling east in 1496, but after his father's death, trying to find a short cut to India. Evidently, Sebastian was either confused or loose with the truth. Perhaps what one of these Cabots did find was that the North American continent continued far north from what Columbus had discovered, and Sebastian may have been the first to attempt the centuries' long obsession of finding a northwest passage. Then again, he and Nicholls may have had more glorious imaginations than anything supported by reality. Nicholls' book was published in 1869. $400. An interesting later note is that some believe that Cabot's expedition was partly financed by Bristol merchant Richard Amerik, and that America was thereby named for him, not Amerigo Vespucci.
Isaac Weld was also an American explorer, but of a very different sort. He had no ships or crew, though for awhile he had a canoe. Weld came to America from Ireland in 1795, apparently to determine whether this would be a suitable place to live should the need ever arise. For the next two years, he wandered around the United States and Canada, both the populated seaboard communities and the lonesome hinterlands. He traveled on horseback, on foot, and by canoe. Through much of the backwoods he relied on friendly Indians (and for Indians to be friendly) as guides. When he returned to Ireland in 1797, he wrote the book Travels through the States of North America, and the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the Years 1795, 1796 and 1797. Item 127 is an inscribed copy of Weld's second edition from 1799. Evidently, Weld never returned to the States though he lived a long life. $900.
Item 27 is the rare A Particular Account of the Taking of Cape Breton from the French...the 17th of June 1745, by Philip Durell. France had built a fortress at Louisbourg on Isle Royale, as Cape Breton, an island off Nova Scotia, was then known. It was an important source of trade with New France, as much of North America was then called. However, the French and British were seemingly always at war in those days, and in 1745, the fort fell to the British. This book is an account from the victors' side. Cape Breton would be returned to the French, but was recaptured for good in 1758 during the French and Indian War. $32,000.
You may find Helen R. Kahn Rare Books online at www.hrkahnbooks.com or reach them at 514-844-5344.
