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Author: Ulloa, Antonio de, & Jorge Juan y Santacilla
Title: Relacion historica del viage a la America Meridional... [with] Observacions astronomica y phisicas...del Peru
Place Published: Madrid
Publisher:Antonio Marin / Juan de Zuñiga
Date Published: 1749
Description:

Comprises:

• 
  Relacion historica del viage a la America Meridional... 4 volumes. [24], 404; [4], [405]-682; [12], 379, [1]; [4], [381-603, cxcv pp. Madrid: Impresso de orden del Rey Nuestro Señor por Antonio Marin, 1748.


• 
  Observacions astronomica y phisicas hechas de orden de S. Mag. en los Reynos del Peru... [16], xxviii, 396, [14] pp. ;Madrid: Impresso de orden del Rey Nuestro Señor por Juan de Zuñiga, 1748.

5 volumes. Title pages printed in red & black, with engraved pictorial devices; 2 frontispieces; 43 folding engraved maps, plans and views on 42 sheets; 10 large pictorial engraved headpieces. (Folio) 27.2x19 cm (10¾x7½"), period mottled sheep, spines tooled in gilt, raised bands, marbled endpapers. First Edition.

The rare Spanish first edition of the official account of the voyage undertaken by the Spaniards accompanying La Condamine's expedition to determine the circumference of the earth. ;The King of Spain had granted permission to the French Academy of Sciences to send an expedition under the leadership of Charles-Marie de la Condamine to the equinoctial regions of Spanish South America in order to measure the dimension and shape of the earth. As part of the Crown's agreement to cross Spanish territory, Ulloa and Juan y Santacilla accompanied the expedition. Juan wrote the text relating to scientific observations and Ulloa compiled the history of the expedition. The result was ;the most comprehensive 18th-century account of that continent, based on ten years travel and observation. The important maps and plates, finely engraved and printed on thick paper, include ;city views of Cartagena, Quito, Lima, and others, scenes of Inca civilization, and scientific instruments used on the expedition. There is an important chart of the west coast from Acapulco south. Hill 1739; ;Sabin 36811 & 3680. Some listings call for two frontispiece in the Relacion, but this copy only has one in the first volume, as well as one for the Observacions. There are a few early ; ink notations on preliminary leaves.

Some scuffing and wear to covers, most spine labels not present, Vol. I of Relacion with front free endpaper not present; occasional minor internal soiling and slight worming, a few plates a bit darkened, glue stain to a large foldout plate where sheets are joined, folding plan of Lima detached, with marginal chips; very good, contents quite fresh overall.