The Present State of Peru:

£2,500 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

A translated abridgement of Mercurio Peruano, a biweekly newspaper published in Lima between 1791 and 1795, a clutch of which fell into the hands of the editor after the capture of the Spanish galleon St. Jago and its treasure (some £133 million in today's money) in 1795. Original authors include Jacinti Calero y Moreira, Hipólito Unanue, José Baquíjano y Carrillo and José Rossi y Rubí. These young writers belonged to the Society of Lovers of the Country and subscribed to the ideas of the Enlightenment. The translation itself is uneven, but conveys the intent of the authors in their papers and gives a near contemporary account of Lima and Peru at a time when the nation was trying to discover and define its cultural identity. This remains one of the few English works with colour plates on South America. First edition; 4to (27 x 22 cm); 20 hand-coloured stipple-engraved plates, a little trimmed as usual without loss, amorial bookplate to paste-down, mottling to some gatherings, plates fine; contemporary tree calf, gilt flat spine with gilt morocco lettering piece, all edges speckled, a little rubbing to extremities, upper board joint split professionally repaired, a very good copy; xiv, 487, [1]pp. Abbey (Travel), 723; Colas 2751; Lipperheide 1629; Sabin 81615.

• Binding: Hardcover

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