Voyage historique de l'Amerique meridionale fait par ordre du roi d'Espagne [...]. Ouvrage orné des figures, plans et cartes nécessaires et qui contient une histoire des Yncas du Pérou et les observations astronomiques & physiques faites pour déterminer la figure & la grandeur de la terre.

2 vol., 4to: [24 incl. front.]-554, [4 incl. front]-316-[6], [6]-309-[3] pp. (some browning and spotting, non obtrusive, some pl. in the last part more heavily browned).

Contemp. sheep, gilt.-orn. spines with raised bands, red edges (shaved, corners, covers and sides rubbed and sl. bumped, joints starting to split, sm. def. to heads and tails). Large-margined copy.

First French edition translated by M. de Mauvillon from the orig. Spanish ed. (1748) and one of the most important works on Peru, Bolivia, Chile and the history of the Incas. Complete with 2 frontispieces after Picart le Romain, 2 title vign., 3 headpieces and 54 mainly fold. plates after Cochin, Picart, Debrie, etc. showing maps, plans, views, Inca ceremonies, sacrifices and astronomy. The mathematicians and astronomers Ulloa and Juan were commissioned by Philip V to accompany Frenchmen authorized to travel through his Empire "beyond" in order to determine the degree of the equinox in Peru. Having left Europe in May 1735, they did not return until 1746. The first part, written by Ulloa, concerns the journey and the description of the countries and cities (Quito, Lima, Valparaiso, Chile, etc.) from the points of view of the sea, fauna, inhabitants... as well as the history of the Incas with chronology of their kings. The second part, written by Juan, concerns the description of physical and astronomical observations. Titles in red & black.
Ref. Sabin 36812. - Palau, VII:221. - STCN. - Cp. Chadenat 6019 & 6322.
Prov. Stamp. - Ms. price "1 prix de l'algebre et de la geometrie obtenu le 24 août, 1809 dans l'ecole de Louvain, Joseph Navecin".