Travels in South America during the years 1819-20-21 containing an account of the present state of Brazil, Buenos Ayres and Chile.

London, John Murray on Albemarle Street, 1825. First edition. Two volumes, 230 x 148 mm, (xii) 373 + (viii) 380 pp. Recently rebound in half morocco leather with 5 raised bands, author's name, title, volume number and year stamped in gold, marbled papers on covers and as endpapers. Headbands. Volume I features a picture of two masked women as "The Usual Walking Costume of Lima", a short preface, 12 chapters, 5 colored plates and an unfolding map of South America. Volume II features four color plates, including a frontispiece as well, chapters 13-19, no less than 26 appendixes and a very long folding map. "Caldcleugh came to Brazil as private secretary to the British Ambassador, Edward Thornton. From October, 1819, until 1821 he lived in Rio, and from there travelled to Argentina and Chile. His return journey again took him through Brazil, and this time he visited Minas Geraes which he describes on pp. 178-288 of the second volume. Caldcleugh's work has great documentary value. An excellent and impartial observer, he describes Rio de Janeiro with great accuracy, and studies the social, agricultural, financial, and political situations in Brazil. The part referring to the mines in Minas Geraes is of great interest. The first volume contains two very beautiful views of Rio de Janeiro." (Borba de Moraes, I:144) "An example of the very important travel literature of the period" (Griffin 3455). Abbey Travel 699, Sabin 9877. This work also includes appendices on matters such as meteorology, the slave trade, and shipping.

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A very good and elegant copy. Some pages show some browning and occasional small defects on the margins with no loss to the pictures, content or the recently rebacked sturdy binding.