Histoire de la découverte et la conquete du Perou by Zarate, Agustin de - 1774

Fundamental Americana and one of the most regarded histories of Peru and the Spanish colonization; a fine copy bound by Padeloup. 1774. Paris. Par la compagnie des libraires. Two volumes in 12mo (168 mm x 97 mm). 1 [blank] + frontispiece + xl + 360 1 [blank]; 1 [blank] + viii + 479 + 1 [blank] + 12 plates & maps, a few folding. A most attractive contemporary calf, supposedly made by Padeloup, both with contemporary writing “Reliure de Padeloup”, boards with triple gilt fillet, spines flat richly gilt with interlacing fillets, two lettering pieces, inner dentelle gilt, gently rubbed, generally very good. A fine copy, with a few foxing spots here and there, else virtually flawless. Truly beautiful set of Zarate´s cornerstone & early chronic on Peru. The copy seems to have been bound by none the less than Padeloup, and the elegance and beauty of the binding might confirm it. Illustrated with 12 maps & plates, showing –in cases fictionary- local costumes, tortures, daily life scenes, mining, fauna and flora of the region; the map shows the Pacific coast of South America. The illustrations were prepared for the French edition, and they are of questionable credibility. Zarate (1504 – 1560) was a public officer of Spain, sent to Peru to examine the financial situation; thanks to his position, he had access to privileged information, some of which would be later added to his work. The narrative begins with the discovery of Peru, focusing on the colonization and establishment of the Spanish Institutions, and ends close to the death of Pizarro. Despite the Spanish secrecy policy, that would have prohibited the publication of the work, Phillip II allowed and ordered the publication of Zarate´s controversial Chronic. The same policy would allow Las Casas critic towards the Spanish colonization. Fundamental Americana y una de las piedras fundacionales de la historiografía del Perú. La crónica, escrita por Agustín de Zarate (1504 – 1560), quién fuera enviado al Perú con la finalidad de examinar la situación financiera de la región, comienza con el descubrimiento del Perú, estudia atentamente a las instituciones españolas, y concluye con la muerte de Pizarro. A pesar de la política secretista de España, el Príncipe Felipe de España, hijo de Carlos V, gustó del manuscrito presentado y permitió su publicación. Ilustrada con un mapa plegado de la costa Pacífica de América del Sur y 14 grabados con escenas costumbristas, vistas de ciudades y nativos. Sabin, 106266. Palau, 379645.