Political Essay on the Kingdom of New Spain ... Vol, II only by HUMBOLDT, Alexander de, translated by John Black - 1911: This copy from the library of Miss Sidney I. Heiskell of Winchester, Virginia.

New-York: Printed and published by I. Riley, 1811. First American edition. Volume II only. Octavo (8.75" x 5.5"), 377 pages. Publisher's full sheep with a gilt-lettered morocco spine label. This copy from the library of Miss Sidney I. Heiskell of Winchester, Virginia with her nearly contemporary signature in old ink at the front free endpaper.

Binding rubbed & scuffed, shallow losses mostly at the top of the spine, previous owner's name & place at the ffep, text toned, sporadic foxing, withal a very good copy.

Previous owner Sidney Isabella Heiskell (1805 - 1882) was the daughter of John Heiskell, a journalist & publisher of the Winchester Gazette from 1811 to 1826. She married Samuel Ott who was "one of the pioneer merchants of Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia).

An important book, albeit volume II only, which provides "researches relative to the geography of Mexico, the extent of its surface and its political division into intendancies, the physical aspect of the country, the population, the state of agriculture and manufacturing and commercial industry, the canals projected between the South Sea and Atlantic Ocean, the crown revenues, the quantity of the precious metals which have flowed from Mexico into Europe and Asia, since the discovery of the new continent, and the military defence of New Spain." ~Excerpted from the title page.