Folio, (292 x 195 mm). 4 ff.; 192 ff.; 22 ff. 17th or early 18th century vellum, yapp edges, manuscript title to spine, staining and light wear to vellum, text block beginning to separate but holding well, both titles in facsimile, first few leaves with marginal paper restoration, occasional paper repairs at times affecting text and one woodcut (f. 66), title of second book with burn hole in center of text, a few leaves with marginal tears, occasional contemporary marginalia in both works, dampstaining, occasional finger soiling, staining and foxing throughout.


The Historia is one of the earliest first-hand accounts of the New World, it is vital as a record of the first European contact with the Indies and its subsequent colonization, the product of a compilation of Oviedo´s own experiences and contemporary sources. Where possible, he met other explorers and thus gathered fresh, first-hand information. This makes the book an invaluable compendium of the first decades of the Conquest and the earliest days of Exploration and Discovery of the New World. Given the impetus of trade, theEuropean interest in natural history was enormous and Oviedo devotes considerable space to it. The work’s importance is such that Bois Perose called it, “[t]he greatest classic of the early years of Spanish activity by a contemporary”. The Hystoria general de las Indias is here in its second edition, first printed in 1535. In addition to providing accounts of Columbus, the history of Santo Domingo and exploration of the Yucatan, it contains important descriptions of thenatural history of the New World, including the first printed description and illustration of the pineapple, and a number of other significant illustrations such as the tobacco leaf, varieties of cacti and fruits, exotic animals and the Indian hammock.

The printing is set in two columns in gothic type, and is thoroughly illustrated by a large woodcut to the title-page (printed in two colours) showing the arms of Spain, with a decorative frame, and a series of woodcuts in text, depicting a wide variety of subjects including some of the first illustrations of American natural history, both fauna and flora, and the earliest images of American plants drawn from nature. Of real importance are the images of natives, one of which is thefamous image of natives in the search for gold, a valuable piece for the evolution of Amerindian iconography.

“The value of the classic work requires no comment. It has always been cited as the source book for information about some of the first historical events of Brazil” (Borba de Moraes).

Oviedo (1478 – 1557) is unanimously recognized as one of the earliest and most reliable chroniclers of the Indies. Having spent over 30 years in America, he witnessed the conquering of the New World by the Spanish, and was present for the fabulous return of Columbus in 1493. Church says of this work: “He was Governor of the Province of Carthagena and filled other high positions. The knowledge thus acquired of men and events gave him unusual opportunities forgathering information for this, his chief work. Like most active men, his views were tinctured with partisan feelings so that whatever he wrote must be received with caution, as he was far from being an impartial chronicler. Authority was given him by the Emperor to demand from the different governors of Spanish America such documents as he might need for this work. He gives a vivid pictureof conditions as they then existed, and his work, which possesses considerable literary merit, is a vast storehouse of facts relating to the times. This is the source from which most literary writers have drawn their accounts of the early occurrences in the New World.” (Church, 71). Oviedo, is considered the "dean of the Spanish historians of the discovery and conquest of the Indies" (J. B. de Avalle-Arce, "Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo y Valdes: Chronicler of the Indies," in P. Galloway, ed. The Hernando de Soto Expedition, 2005, p. 369).

Very rare; complete copies are so unusual that condition issues have been traditionally pardoned by bibliophiles and collectors, who have been unable to obtain “perfect” copies.

Xerez's history of the conquest of Peru, first published in 1534, is sometimes found on its own. It was written at the request of Pizarro by a contemporary witness. Xerez was secretary to Pizarro.

Provenance: from the collection of Nicolas Ingleton, Australia.European Americana 547/15 and 543/17; BM/STC Spanish p. 35; Sabin 57989 & 105723; Medina BHA 131-130.