Descripcion historial de la Provincia y archipielago de Chiloe
Chile in the time of Pizarro, the rare first edition.
Of great interest is an early account of Tahiti and of the Spanish expedition sent to Tahiti taking out some Franciscan Missionaries for the conversion of the inhabitants.
Described as "rare" in the Harmsworth sale.
An attractive and pure copy complete of the plate and of the important map.
4° of (4) ll., 318pp., 1 pate, 1 folding map.
Old calf, gilt arms at center of cover, smooth spine..
198 x 140 mm.
Agueros, Pedro Gonzalez de. Descripcion Historial de la Provincia y Archipielago de Chilóe, en el Reyno de Chile, y Obispado de la Concepcion: dedicada á Nuestro Católico Monarca Don Cárlos IV. (Que Dios guarde)… y su Procurador en esta Corte de Madrid.
[Madrid], Benito Cano, 1791.
Rare first edition.
Sabin 524; Palau VI, 104963
A rare history of Chile from the time of Pizarro's invasion forward, including descriptions of resources, climate, and customs of the Indians of the south Chilean island province of Chiloe.
The author, Pedro Gonzalez de Agueros would later become Archbishop of Lima.
Of great interest is an early account of Tahiti, which appears on pages 251-314 under the heading "Noticias practicas, e individuales de las islas nombradas vulgarmente de Otahiti ó Carolinas situadas en el mar del sud, ó Pacifico."
The island had been discovered as recently as 1770. The expedition to Tahiti and adjacent islands was undertaken in 1774 by two Franciscans from Lima, and the text includes an account of their stay from November 1774 to November 1775.
The attractive engraved map, "Mapa de la Provincia y Archipielago de Chiloe.," locates numerous cities and islands.
Described as "rare" in the Harmsworth sale.
The plate represents the “Verdadera effigie” of a tree in the valley of Limache, growing in the form of a cross, with the image of the crucified Saviour thereon.
The second half of the volume entitled " Noticias Practicas, e Individuales de las Islas Nombradas vulgarmente de Otahiti o Carolinas, situadas en el Mar del Sud, o Pacifioo." gives an account of the Spanish expedition sent, in the year 1774, from Callao to Tahiti and the Society Islands, taking out some Franciscan Missionaries for the conversion of the inhabitants.
This is one of very few early accounts of Spanish activities in Tahiti, including a missionary expedition made from Lima in late 1774 in the Aguila.
An attractive and pure copy complete of the plate and the map.
