Voyages from Montreal through the Continent of North America

First edition of Mackenzie’s voyage across America, preceding Lewis and Clark by twelve years!

Alexander Mackenzie, a name unfamiliar to many Americans, was the first European explorer to cross modern-day North America, north of Mexico, from east to west. Working on behalf of the English North West Company, Mackenzie undertook two expeditions between 1789 and 1793 in a search for the ever-elusive passage to the Pacific Ocean.

This account of his travels was written by the famed explorer himself and printed in London by R. Noble in 1801 on behalf of several listed publishers. It includes two parts; A General History of the Fur Trade and Journal of a Voyage Through the North-West Continent of America. Both provide fascinating firsthand insight into the early economy and politics of colonial North America.

In addition, the publication includes three folding maps. The first, measuring 31.5″ x 18″ shows his routes across Canada and the northern United States with hand-applied outline color. A second map, 22.5″ x 24.5″ shows Mackenzie’s tracks from Fort Chipewyan to the North Sea, while the final chart shows his path from the same fort to the Pacific Ocean and measures 24″ x 23.”