A Voyage to the Eastern part of Terra Firma, or the Spanish Main

Depons, François Joseph, A Voyage to the Eastern part of Terra Firma, or the Spanish Main, in South-America, during the years 1801, 1802, 1803, and 1804, Containing a description of the territory under the jurisdiction of the captain general of Caraccas, composed of the provinces of Venezuela, Maracaibo, Varinas, Spanish Guiana, Cumana, and the island of Margaretta; and embracing every thing relative to the discovery, conquest, topography, legislation, commerce, finance, inhabitants and productions of the provinces, together with a view of the manners and customs of the Spaniards, and the savage as well as civilized Indians, 3 Volumes, Translated by an American gentleman, New York: I. Riley and Co., 1806 [all three volumes are in very fragile condition]

From rare, antiquarian, used & out-of-print books on travel in Central America, Caribbean & West Indies:

First edition in English, 8vo [22 x 13 cm]; 3 volumes, xxxii, 248, [vi]; 362, [viii]; 288 pp, large folding engraved map of eastern South America, contemporary tree calf, recased with calf spines and new endpapers, title lettering on paper spine labels, edgewear, some light foxing, bookplate of Bernhard Schaefer on endpapers, signature on vol III title, solid very good set.

The author, an agent of the French government at Caracas, described the history, conquest, topography, political and commercial life, customs & manners of the Spanish and Indians, finance, in the various provinces in the Caribbean under control of the Captain-General of Caracas including Venezuela, Maracaibo, Spanish Guiana, Cumana and the Isle of Margaretta. First published in Paris in the same year, this translation was by Washington Irving and was his first book, published when he was 23. BAL 10096. Sabin19642. Humphreys 564 refers to the two volume 1807 edition published in London. Hill p. 238: 'This is an important account of Venezuela giving a description of the country and people and also accounts of growth and production of cocoa, indigo, sugar, cotton, coffee, and tabacco'. The London edition was entitled, 'Travels in South America, During the Years 1801, 1802, 1803, and 1804'. Field 421: 'Beside his account of the slaughter and destruction of Indians during the conquest of their nations, the author gives Portrait of the Indians before the arrival of the Europeans'. There is much on the native peoples. Hand D132: 'Important early documentation'.

US$950. bookID # 9093

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