Americana

Splendid copy in vibrant contemporary hand-coloring of the first English edition of the most famous work on Dutch Surinam

The preferred edition, illustrated with plates by William Blake, with all the plates in exceptional contemporary hand color and occasionally heightened with gold, a large-paper copy of the first English edition of Stedman’s account of the events occurred in Surinam, providing an often visually-striking representation of the beauty of the region and horrors of slavery.

Exceptional copy from the libraries of Stuart de Rothsay and Sir Thomas Phillipps of the Noticia de la California by Jesuit Father Venegas

First edition, the first printed history of California, from the libraries of Stuart de Rothesay with his supralibros and Sir Thomas Philipps, a cornerstone work which comprises the areas of modern California, Baja, Sourthern Arizona and Sonora, here in a remarkable copy. The work deals with a variety of topics, including the natural history, geography, and local inhabitants encompassing the period from the discovery up to 1739. In many cases it is based on Venegas’ on experiences, and also on earlier sources, includes the novel method of questionnaires he sent to missionaries involved in the Missions. The third volume contains appendices by Burriel, dealing with the exploration of the Northwest coast and Father Fernando Konsag’s exploration.

The best history on the Abipones, later used by Southey for his Tale of Paraguay, discussing their language, costumes, and natural history, with the most accurate map of the region at that date

First edition; extremely rare work on the equestrian tribe of Paraguay, source of Southey’s Take of Paraguay (1825), marvelously illustrated with folding maps of the region and plates illustrating the native population and fauna: praised by Sabin, Southey, Furlong and Mitre, still of interest to anthropologist and ethnographers. Dobrizhoffer (1717-1791) was an Austrian Priest and missionary, sent to South America in 1749 where he spent 18 years among the Guaranis and the Abipones (now an extinct tribe) following the expulsion of the Jesuits he returned to Vienna where he secured the protection of Maria Theresa and published his book.

One of the finest color plate books ever produced, illustrating the country in the turmoil following the struggle for Independence.

One of the rarest and most beautiful views of Mexico from the 19th century, also considered one of the finest color-plate books ever produced, showing gorgeous scenes of the Valley of Mexico, without the slightest evidence of the ongoing political turmoil plaguing the country in the aftermath of the war of Independence. The plates are made after the paintings of a key early British painter of Mexico, Daniel Thomas Egerton, one of the original members of the Royal Society of British Artists. Egerton´s life contemporary to the publication of this set of views was submersed in intrigue and catastrophe, ending in his assassination. He was amongst the first foreign artists to enter Mexico, which borders were essentially closed to non-Spanish artists throughout the Viceregal period.

Second and Third Cortes Letters of 1524 “a work of bedrock importance to the New World” (Reese).

This fine sammelband comprises the first Latin Editions of Cortes's 2nd and 3rd Letters, bound together in the early 17th century, along with Italian translations of Cortes's Second and Third Letters excerpted from Ramusio's 1606 Navigatione et Viaggi, and with Porcacchi's 1605 Isolario.

The first map to name Louisiana, first printed account of La Salle’s exploration of the Illinois country, and the first eye-witness description of Niagara Falls

An important work of Americana, incorporating the first issue of the first map to name Louisiana, this is Hennepin’s first work, which contains the first printed account of La Salle’s exploration of the Illinois country, and the first eye-witness description of Niagara Falls; this is the second edition of the book, however contains the first issue of the map, entitled ‘Carte de la Nouvelle France et de la Louisiane’ showing the Mississippi River not fully extending to the Gulf of Mexico and with a faint dotted line indicating the presumed course of the River, the map was engraved by Roussel and embellished with a cartouche by N. Guerard.

The first legislation addressed to the welfare of the Native Americans,
promulgated at the instances of Bishop Bartolome de Las Casas.

First edition, of pivotal transcendence, a work that altered the Spanish
position towards Native Americans and their relation with the
conquistadors, the first book dedicated solely to American Law and to
the betterment of the treatment of the indigenous population, including,
extraordinarily, an abolition cause. Of superlative rarity institutionally
and in the market.

Fascinating Mexican manuscript portraying 24 glyphs and the arms of the Count of Salvatierra, an example of the romanticization of the Aztec Empire in the 19th century

Exceptionally rare and truly striking Mexican illuminated manuscript on amate paper, a unique composition showing 24 glyphs surrounding a large coat of arms of Don Garcia Sarmiento de Sotomayor, conde de Salvatierra (viceroy of New Spain from 1642 to 1649), overall a truly fascinating example of the romanticization of the Aztec Empire in Mexico in the 19th century, and overall, the nascent nationalism and search for a cultural identity. It appears to confirm the control of Don Garcia Sarmiento de Sotomayor, 19th viceroy of Mexico, represented by his armorial bearings over the lands depicted in the surrounding glyphs.

Fine photo album of Mexico and Cuba, along with a German cigar factory

Very fine, large original photographs with views of Mexico by Abel Briquet (1833-1926), a French photographer and owner of a studio in Paris, operating from the 1850s onwards.

The development of Jefferson County by French immigrants connected to Revolution, including maps with city planning and hundreds of documents about land acquisition and the general context surrounding the creation of the city

An extraordinary record of land acquisition and development by French settlers in Jefferson County, New York, spanning an eighty-year period from the close of the eighteenth century to the 1870s.

Magnificent work on the Dutch colony of Brazil, the folio edition, complete with all plates and maps

First edition, the most famous book published on Brazil of the 17th century, illustrated with double page and folding views of Brazilian ports, cities and maps by Blaeu, all inspired in the illustration of Franz Post, who accompanied Nassau on his trip to Brazil. This is the folio edition, coveted by collectors over the small and far more common 8vo edition.

Questionnaire for the description of the Indies

First edition of this exceptionally rare questionnaire for the administrators and officials of the Indies. The questionnaire was intended to be comprehensive and covered a variety of topics: first focuses on toponyms and their meanings in the native language, followed by questions about Spanish explorers and conquerors. It continues with issues related to climate, rainfall, and the days of the year when the sun casts no shadow at midday. It inquiries about historical matters such as previous rulers, religion, and wars, as well as clothing before and after the conquest and the population's health before and after the arrival of the Spanish. It also addresses orography, hydrography, volcanic activity, crops, herbal medicine, medicinal plants, wild and even domestic fauna, and resources such as minerals and precious stones. The questionnaire also seeks information about churches, monasteries, convents, hospitals, schools, and charitable institutions. It mentions specific products of great utility in both America and Europe, such as silk, cochineal, and salt. Additionally, it requires the creation of religious maps that include streets, squares, churches, roads, coastlines, and islands when the surveyed communities are located near the ocean.

Debating the end of slavery in Africa, published in Luanda

Rare and highly important – one of very few works that focus on the debate surrounding the end of slavery in Africa between colonial luminaries; published in Luanda, it's the work of the ardent abolitionist Eduardo de Balsemão, Secretary General of Angola, who advocated the immediate end of slavery in Portuguese Africa. It was written as a response to the senior Luanda judge, Carlos Pacheco de Bettencourt, who argued that slavery should be ended in a gradual fashion, over a 10-year period. To support his case, Balsemão uses the example of the recent ‘Port Royal Experiment’, whereupon a group of newly freed slaves in South Carolina proved that they could be successful and productive without white supervision. One of the most engaging and insightful early Angola imprints, providing a critical, yet under-appreciated, perspective on one of the great debates of the era.