Beschreibung
COCHRANE, Charles Stuart.Journal of a residence and travels in Colombia, during the years 1823 and 1824. London, S. & R. Bentley for Henry Colburn, 1825. 2 volumes in 8vo. xv + [1] + 524p; viii + 517 + [1 blank]p, including errata. With coloured frontispiece plates and one large engraved folding map. Half calf, morocco title labels, marbled boards. The entertaining observations of a British naval captain, whose initial motive to tour the country was to secure a commercial privilege for the improvement of its pearl-fisheries. The first volume is introduced by a coloured frontispiece portrait of the author in native travelling costume (wearing a poncho) engraved by R[obert] Cooper (see Thieme-Becker VII, 362): it contains descriptions of the cities of Caracas, Mompos and Honda, the chief agricultural produce (wheat, maize, rice, indigo, cotton, tobacco, sugar, coffee & cocoa) and exotic animals, an Historical sketch of the aboriginal Indians (pp204-255), and a potted history of Spanish America including the revolutionary period (pp256-524). The second volume, preceded by a charming coloured acquatint showing a dramatic mountain ascent, is largely devoted to Bogotá and its surroundings, where Cochrane spent most of his time; he describes the city s architecture, system of government, and the customs and manners of the people. Other topics are copper and emerald mines, the authorized looting of ancient Indian burial places, steam-boat concessions for the Magdalena River, and the topography of the port of Cartagena. A supplement contains a statistical report on the siege of Puerto Cabello. Some light offsetting on titles, otherwise a good set with the contemporary bookplate of Southam de la Bere, Earl of Ellenborough. Abbey 718; Cundall, West Indies 1197; Palau 55908; Sabin 14072. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 5676
Verkäufer kontaktieren
Diesen Artikel melden
