Duane, William:

$1,850 · Offered by William Reese Company · No longer available

A VISIT TO COLOMBIA, IN THE YEARS 1822 & 1823, BY LAGUAYRA AND CARACAS, OVER THE CORDILLERA TO BOGOTA, AND THENCE BY THE MAGDALENA TO CARTAGENA. An interesting and thorough description of Colombia in the midst of the Latin American independence movements, by William Duane, the famed publisher of the PHILADELPHIA AURORA. Duane had been interested in Latin American affairs for decades, and was asked by several business associates to assist in settling claims against the government. He travelled to Colombia in 1822-23 and produced this lengthy work on the country, including discussions of its culture, geography, religion, trade, society, economics, governmental structure, natural history, and people. The result is an excellent examination of the country by an astute observer. The attractive aquatint plates, which show the Pass of La Cabrera and the Falls of Taquendama, are from sketches by Duane and were drawn by Thomas Birch, famous for this work with his father, William, on the pioneering American color plate book, THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA. The appendix prints the constitutions of Colombia. Relatively scarce on the market.

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