Fine Books & Manuscripts

CALDCLEUGH, Alexander (1795–1858). Travels in South America During the Years 1819–20–21; Containing an Account of the Present State of Brazil, Buenos Ayres, and Chile. London: John Murray, 1825. 2 volumes, 8vo. 9 plates in aquatint (one hand–colored), 2 folding engraved maps with some hand–coloring. (Offsetting from plates to text, some pale browning to maps). Contemporary half calf over marbled boards, morocco lettering–pieces gilt in second compartment, gilt centerpieces and fillets in remainder (restoration to upper compartments, light rubbing to joints including some separation to upper joint in Volume II, occasional spotting to text, AA8 in Volume I and facing plate partially sprung). Provenance: Sir John Smith (armorial bookplate). FIRST EDITION, of this scarce and important narrative of South America. Caldcleugh describes Rio de Janeiro with great accuracy, and studies the social agricultural, financial, and political situations in Brazil. Abbey, Travel 699; Borba de Moraes, p. 144; Sabin 9877.