First edition. With the folding map of Kentucky in good condition. The First French edition of the first history of Kentucky following the exceptionally scarce Wilmington, Delaware edition from the previous year, and the first with a map. An historic work noted for having the first available map of Kentucky and the first mention and published biography of the American hero Daniel Boone. Translated by M. Parraud it contains material not found in the first American or English editions. Vail describes it as “The most famous and important frontier book of the period … particularly important for the first map of Kentucky and the first published life of Daniel Boone”,

The map published for the 1784 Wilmington, Delaware edition is very scarce surviving in only a very few examples. This is the earliest obtainable map of Kentucky and is remarkable for capturing the territory before it was populated with immigrants. It is the first to record the region accurately and records the towns, trails, houses and forts. Sabin cites that “the map is often deficient”.

The second part of the work starting on page 56 is on Daniel Boone, the famous frontiersman including his captivity. Howes described it as the “First book on Kentucky and most notable product from the pen of a Western pioneer.” It also records descriptions of Mammoth bones and ancient burial sites and speculates on origins of the native American Indians. The reprint of the Wilmington edition states that Filson has given us “a priceless tale of early days in Kentucky, which, for stirring action and regional description, has rarely been equalled as a piece of frontier writing in any part of the country, and never surpassed.” Complete with the last two pages (233 and 234) which contain the “Approbation” and the “Permission du Roi.” This is a very desirable exceptional example in a full contemporary calf binding. Church V 1212; Clark II, 23; Field 536; Howes F129; Sabin 24338; Vail 726.