Beschreibung:

Vues pittoresques de la République Argentine Hermann Burmeister, 1881 BURMEISTER, Hermann (1807-1892). Vues pittoresques de la République Argentine. Buenos Aires: aux frais du Gouvernement National, 1881. Rare and monumental views of Argentina. Burmeister was a German zoologist who was encouraged by Alexander von Humboldt to conduct extensive researches in South America. "At the end of 1856, he went to the La Plata States. He first reached Buenos Aires on January 31, 1857. On his way home he crossed the Cordillera (March 1860)" (Ulrich). During these travels he decided to give up his post at Halle and re-settle in Argentina, which he did in 1861. Most of the views are after the drawings he or his companions made on this trip in the autumn of 1860. The remainder are after photographs taken in Buenos Aires. The advertisement leaf present here gives a good summary of the views; they depict: the principal mountains of Argentina, including the Cordilleras (13), rivers and the sea (6), the terrain of the Pampas (2), the forests of the Región Mesopotámica (2), sub-tropical forests (2), freshwater and saltwater lakes (1 each), towns, villages and houses (11). Figure 15 is counted twice. Of these 37 views, 16 are in color. The title-page advertises this as the first part of the atlas to accompany La Description physique de la République Argentine. This work was never fully completed, but there were four text volumes and four smaller atlas volumes depicting mammals and insects. Palau 37543. See Ulrich, "Hermann Burmeister, 1807 to 1892," in Annual Review of Entomology 17 (1972). Oblong broadsheet folio (545 x 745mm). With 14 tinted lithographed plates by Carl Muller of Berlin, 7 of which are color, comprising 37 views in all (text leaves browned, some spotting, figs. 1 and 17 with a little offsetting from text). Original green half morocco, upper cover lettered in gilt and with the coat of arms of Argentina (small repairs to corners, a few little nicks and scrapes, small tear to f.f.e.).