"[Lot of 4] [2 Volumes] Researches, Concerning the Institutions & Monuments of the Ancient Inhabitants of America...[and] [2 Volumes] Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of the New Continent", Humboldt, Friedrich Heinrich Alexander von

This lot includes the complete two volumes from Researches, Concerning the Institutions & Monuments of the Ancient Inhabitants of America... (vol. 1 - 411 pages, vol. 2 - 324 pages). These "picturesque atlas" volumes contain no maps, but include 19 plates of mostly views, as well as 5 very interesting colored plates of hieroglyphics. Sabin states that "this translation of the text of the celebrated 'Vues des Cordilleres' is a valuable adjunct to the great folio of plates, for all students not familiar with the language of the original."

Also included in the lot are the first two volumes (of seven) from the first English, octavo edition of Humboldt's Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of the New Continent. This reduced version was translated into English by Helen Maria Williams (as above) and published in London by Longman, Hurst, Rees and others. Volume 1 (289 pages) chapters include "Departure from Spain - Landing at the Canary Islands" and "Stay at Teneriffe - Journey from Santa Cruz to Orotava - Excursion to the top of the Peake of Teyde." Volume 2 (299 pages) chapters include "Passage from Teneriffe to the coasts of South America - The Island of Tobago - Arrival at Cumana"; "First abode at Cumana - Banks of the Manzanares"; and "Peninsula of Araya - Salt-marshes - Ruins of the Castle of San Giacomo." The first text volume also includes a frontispiece map showing a triangulation of the region near La Paz.

Hardbound in uniform quarter leather and tips over stiff paper boards.

References: Sabin #33751; Sabin #33770.

Condition: A

The plates and text are very clean and tight. The extremities have light wear with the hinges mildly starting. The first two volumes have a previous owner's bookplate on the front pastedown.