Beschreibung:

Title: Voyage to the South-Sea and Along the Coasts of Chili and Peru in the Years 1712, 1713, and 1714. Particularly Describing the Genius and Constitution of the Inhabitants, as well as Indians and Spaniards: Their Customs and Manners, their Natural History, Mines, Commodities, Traffick with Europe &c. Author: Frezier, Amedee Francois Place: London Publisher: Jonah Bowyer Date: 1717 Description: [xiv], 335, [9] pp. 13 engraved plates (1 folding), and 24 maps and plans (16 folding). (4to) 22.5x17 cm (8¾x6¾") early paneled calf with old rebacking, spine gilt, endpaper renewed. First Edition in English. "Frezier, a French royal military engineer, was under contract to sail to the Spanish possessions in South America to construct forts for defense against English and Dutch attacks. The French government also ordered him to chart the western coast of South America, in order that they would have some knowledge of that area for possible military operations. The first part of this book gives an interesting account of the voyage from France around Cape Horn and was used by contemporary and even by later navigators. The second part relates to the voyage along the coasts of Chile and Peru, describing the chief towns and cities. Frezier, a man of observation, brought back information of consideration geographical and scientific value" (Hill). Plate IX, showing a Chilean in the posture of playing La Sueca, is commonly regarded as the earliest depiction of a form of golf. Frezier introduced strawberries from Chile to France and there is herein a plate illustrating the strawberry. The plates in this edition are the same as those in the first French edition and the captions reflect this fact. All of Frezier's geographical errors are in this edition corrected by Halley in his Postscript. Hill, p. 115-16. Lot Amendments Condition: Binding worn, restoration to joints; foxing and offsetting within; very good. Item number: 269313