Historische reisbeschryving van geheel Zuid-America.

2 vol., 4to: [10 incl. front.]-xxiv-428, viii-iv-406-[1] pp. (light dampstain at upper corner of vol. I).

Contemp. half sheep, marbled paper over covers, gilt spines with raised bands (rubbed, corners bumped, heads & tails def., joints rubbed or starting to split). Inside a very good copy on large paper (uncut).

Very rare first Dutch edition of "Relación histórica del viage a la América Meridional" (1st Madrid, 1748), an account of a scientific voyage written down by the Spanish scientific marine officers Antonio de Ulloa (1716-1795) and J.J. Santacilia (1713-1773). Engr. ill. (complete): nice allegorical front., 2 marks on titles showing the arms of Philip II, dedication headpiece and 25 neatly executed maps, plans and views (mostly fold.) by i.a. H. Vinkeles and J. van Schley, showing the meridian in the Kingdom of Quito, bays, islands and harbours, the whole Pacific coast of South and Central America (by Jan van Jagen), town plans of Cartagena, Quito and Lima, ruins of Inca palaces, a volcano, llamas, an octant, indigenous villages, vessels, bridges, tools, idols and costumes. With the permission by King Philip V of Spain (printed within woodcut border, vol. 2, p. 171), who ordered, in 1734, de Ulloa and Santacilia to join the French Geodesic Mission. Their goal was to settle the controversy concerning the precise shape of the earth by measuring the Meridian degree alongside the Equator in South America. As such, they could determine that the Earth is not perfectly spherical but is oblate, i.e., flattened at the poles. Primary source for the history of Peru, Bolivia, Chili, Ecuador and the Incas. By contemporaries often quoted ed. of which only little copies survived. Incl. list of subscribers in each vol. Titles in red and black.
Ref. Tiele 1120. - Sabin 36804. - STCN (i.a. BL). - Cp. Cox II:275.