Historia en España de las Indias del Nuovo Mondo (Naufragios) Codex Vindobonensus 5620 Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Viena

2 volumes. Facsimile of the manuscript kept at the National Library of Vienna. xxiv+2 page folding map+129 pages with illustrated title and additional illustrations. Quarto (12" x 8 ½") bound in original publisher's dark maroon velvet with gilt lettering to spine and cover with bright gilt insignia to cover in original slipcase. Transcription and introduction with notes by Miguel Nieto Nuño. Limited to 650 copies.

La relación of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca is the account of his experiences with the Narvaez expedition and after being wrecked on Galveston Island in November 1528. Cabeza de Vaca and his last three men struggled to survive. They wandered along the Texas coast as prisoners of the Han and Capoque American Indians for two years, while Cabeza de Vaca observed the people, picking up their ways of life and customs. They traveled through the American Southwest and ultimately reached Mexico City, nearly eight years after being wrecked on the island. In 1537, Cabeza de Vaca returned to Spain, where he wrote his narratives of the Narvaez expedition. These narratives were collected and published in 1542 in Spain. They are now known as The Relation of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca. The narrative of Cabeza de Vaca is the "first European book devoted completely to North America." His detailed account describes the lives of numerous tribes of American Indians of the time. Cabeza de Vaca showed compassion and respect for native peoples, which, together with the detail he recorded, distinguishes his narrative from others of the period.

Condition:

Fine in a near fine slipcase.