Essai Politique sur le Royaume de la Nouvelle-Espagne

Paris: Chez F. Schoell, 1811. First octavo edition. With more extensive text than the quarto edition before it. Five octavo volumes (8 1/8 x 4 15/16 inches; 205 x 125 mm). Volume I with large folding map and Volume II with an engraved folding plan. Complete.

Uniformly bound in full contemporary cat's paw calf. Boards tooled in gilt. Spines elaborately stamped in gilt. Spines with two calf spine labels each. Labels lettered in gilt. Gilt board edges and gilt dentelles. Marbled endpapers. All edges marbled. Previous owner "Hon Captain Spencer" bookplate on front pastedown of each volume. Some minor rubbing to outer hinges. Light sunning to back board of volume I and front board of volume V. Text very clean. Overall a near fine set.

"This important work, the third part of Voyage de Humboldt et Bonpland, contains the most complete and accurate picture of the natural resources of Mexico then available, and in 1824 was declared by a representative of the Mexican government to have contributed to the reanimation of the active industry of the nation. It also contains references to the early exploration of the Californias. This octavo edition has a more extensive text than the earlier quarto edition, and it lacks the dedication to Charles IV of that edition, which had caused Humboldt considerable difficulties with Napoléon. There is also a new "Avertissement de l'éditeur" in three pages. The accompanying atlas is not present here. This work is considered a founding text in the fields of economic geography and political geography." (Hill 843).

Howes states this book is "Of Superlative California Importance."

Hill 843. Howes H-786. Sabin 33713.

HBS 68645.

$2,850.