Beschreibung:

HUMBOLDT, Alexander von (1769-1859) and Aimé J.A. BONPLAND (1773-1858). Vues des Cordillères, et monumens des peuples de l'Amérique . Paris: F. Schoell, 1810. A very early issue of the first two parts of Humboldt's remarkable work on South and Central America, with a large passage of text marked up for removal by an editor on p.52. The expedition is one of the great explorations of the Americas, and opened up the South American Continent to the scientific explorers of the 19th century. Humboldt and Bonpland embarked in the frigate Pizarro from Corunna for the New World in June 1799, arriving at Cumaná in Venezuela the following month, and at Caracas in February 1800. Humboldt and Bonpland's explorations in the Americas lasted 5 years and covered 3 regions. Starting at Caracas, the party travelled south to the river Orinoco, and explored the tributaries of the Amazon. Upon their return, they set off for Cuba, before embarking on a continental overland journey to Bogota, crossing the Cordilleras and exploring the northern Andes. Subsequent to this, Humboldt travelled to Acapulco on the west coast of Mexico arriving in March 1803. The expedition made its headquarters in Mexico City, travelling around Mexico and gathering information for almost a year. In March 1804 they departed for Cuba, returning to Bordeaux via Philadelphia where Humboldt met Jefferson, arriving back in France in August. Immediately after his return to Paris, Humboldt commenced work on his account and results of his travels. The edition of the complete work was small, and during the course of the publication, some of the print runs were so small that even subscribers had difficulty completing sets. The present lot would appear to be a very early issue, without the 16pp, introduction dated 1813, and an early state of the text. Palau 117013; Brunet III-373; Sabin 33754. 2 parts only, large folio (580 x 420mm). Text in French, unbound and uncut, with general half-title and title to Voyage , half-title and title to the present work, 22 (of 69) engraved plates, of which one printed in colours and finished by hand, 2 hand-coloured, and 2 printed in sepia (without 47 plates, general half-title and title with 55mm marginal tear, faint spotting to leaf 1.1). Original pink board portfolios with large letterpress labels with title and contents within woodcut border, ties (spines worn with that to first part mostly missing, a few marginal tears to boards, some ties missing, light soiling, some minor abrasion affecting a few words on labels). Provenance : early editor's markings for excision on p.52 -- ink manuscript corrections on paper label of part 1 portfolio -- Rantzau family (Schloss Breitenburg library stamps on upper covers of parts).