OVIEDO Y VALDES, GONZALO FERNANDEZ DE Historia General y Natural de las Indias, Islas y Tierra Firma del Mar Oceano.
Madrid: Real Academia de la Historia, 1851-55. Three volumes in four. The first complete edition of Oviedo, publishing much of the manuscript for the first time. Contemporary Spanish calf marbled in blue, the spines tooled in gilt and with brown lettering labels, the top edges stained red, uncut. 12 3/4 x 9 inches (32.5 x 23 cm); Vol. 1: Lithographed half-title (or wrapper), CXII, 632, [1] pp., 5 lithographed plates; Vol. 2: Lithographed half-title (or wrapper),VII, 511, [1] pp., 3 plates (2 folding); Vol. 3: Lithographed half-title (or wrapper), VIII, 651, [1] pp., 2 plates; Vol 4: Lithographed half-title (or wrapper), VIII, 619, [1], 5 plates (one in color and folding). Slight fade to spine and few scratches or bumps to corners but the bindings generally fine and attractive, short tear to front free endpaper in volume I, small labels to half-titles, the label in vol. 1 partially removed, spot to one plate at end, otherwise very clean internally.

A very fine set of the first complete edition of Oviedo, publishing much of the manuscript for the first time. This edition also contains the first full-length printing of the sections originally published in Spain in 1526, 1535, and 1547. "Contains so much material not included in the original Spanish editions that it may properly be included in this compilation as a new work" (Howes). Edited by Jose Amador de los Rios, this comprehensive edition also adds maps, a bibliography, and an excellent biography of Oviedo. Palau characterizes this edition as "magnifica en todos conceptos, tanto por el merito historico y literario como por la presentacion nitida y correcta" (translation: "Magnificent in all aspects, mainly for its historical and literary merit and its precise and accurate presentation."). Oviedo's account of events differs considerably from that of Las Casas; indeed, the two found themselves on opposite sides in many matters. Palau 89532; Graff 3147; Howes O159 ("b"); Sabin 57990.

C The Collection of Jay I. Kislak sold to benefit the Kislak Family Foundation

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