2 volumes plus Atlas. [8], xcii, [2], iv, [3]-350, [6]; [4], [351]-904, [2] pp. Text volumes are (large 4to) 35.5x26 cm (14x10¼") original quarter cloth & boards, paper spine labels. Atlas is "Atlas Geographique et Physique du Royaume de la Nouvelle-Espagne, fonde sur des Observations Astronomiques, des Mesures Trigonometriques et des Nivellemens Barometriques." [4], [4] pp. + 19 leaves of engraved maps & plates on heavy paper, 10 of them double-page, 3 folding out as well; includes 4 folded profiles in sepia, bronze, and brown aquatint, 2 views of volcanoes in sepia aquatint. (folio) 56.5x40.4 cm (22¼x15¾"), later half morocco & marbled boards, spine tooled in gilt, raised bands, morocco lettering piece.
Excellent set of this highly important geographic and scientific analysis of New Spain, i.e. Mexico, including the present southwest of the United States. The text volumes are in the original boards, untrimmed and almost entirely unopened, the atlas in a later 19th century half morocco binding. Though complete in itself, the work formed the third part of Humboldt's monumental "Voyage aux regions equinoxiales du Nouveau Continent." From 1799 to 1804, Alexander von Humboldt, accompanied by the French botanist Aime Bonpland, made observations on geology, geography, zoology, botany and the political and social character of the Spanish-controlled regions of the Americas. The present portion comprised the first scientific description of the American Southwest and includes a wealth of new information on California and Texas. The atlas includes plates on volcanoes, land profiles, a map of the southern part of North America, maps of Mexico and many of its parts, and most importantly, Humboldt's two-sheet "Carte Generale du Royaume de la Nouvelle Espagne." This map contained the most up-to-date geographic depiction of Texas, California and the rest of Mexico, and it became the prototype rendering for much of the region for the next several decades. Carl Wheat called the map a "truly magnificent cartographic achievement." Warren Heckrotte notes that "the geographical introduction is a valuable discussion of the cartography of New Spain, providing the basis for Humboldt's maps. The map of New Spain is a cartographic landmark for what is now the western United States." The present set is without the series half title and title pages, which comprised four unnumbered preliminary pages in each volume, following the regular title pages - the pages were undoubtedly never bound in. Present in Vol. I. is the dedication to Charles IV.
Further Notes from the Files of Warren Heckrotte
Provenance: Text: Argonaut 2/72. Atlas: Maggs 10/71
References: Howes H-786. CS-G 2009, W-TW 272, 274, 275, 302, 304, 305. Sabin 33756. Streeter, Bib of Texas, 1049, discusses publication history of atlas and map of New Spain. Reese, Cat 225, 8/03, notes that Yale has copy of text with title page dated 1808. The 1811 ed has same text but has title page dated 1811. Harvard has atlas with 1808 title page (noted by Streeter).
lmagre Bks, Cat 55A, 11/01, has a copy of map, originally dissected and mounted on linen. Been removed from linen and put on paper. Orig label present, but not case. Suggests that it was issued before Atlas, but don't see basis for that, though could be true. States that separate issue of map is unrecorded.