Beschreibung:

Title: A Natural and Civil History of California: Containing an Accurate Description of that Country, Its Soils, Mountains, Harbours, Lakes, Rivers and Seas; Its Animals, Vegetables, Minerals and Famous Fishery for Pearls. The Customs of Inhabitants, Their Religion, Government and Manner of Living before Their Conversion to the Christian Religion by the Missionary Jesuits. Together with Accounts of the Several Voyages and Attempts Made for Settling California, and Taking Actual Surveys of that Country, Its Gulf and Coast of the South-sea Author: Venegas, Miguel Place: London Publisher: James Rivington & James Fletcher Date: 1759 Description: 2 volumes. [20], 455; [8], 387 pp. With 8 copper-engraved illustrations on four plates; folding copper-engraved map of California. 190.5x12 cm. (7¾x4¾"), period full calf, rebacked with later calf, morocco lettering pieces, new endpapers. First Edition in English One of the cornerstones of the study of California history, called the "First attempt at a history of California. Based, by the anonymous editor, Father Andres Marco Burriel, on Venegas 1739 MS., but incorporating information from other sources..." - Howes. Cowan calls the work "the foundation of a library of Californiana." The map, "An Accurate Map of California, drawn by the Society of Jesuits," engraved by J. Gibson for this English edition, is the same as that in the 1757 three-volume Spanish first edition, but without the vignettes surrounding the map. Wheat notes it as "a well-drawn map, showing the missions and Indian towns of Pimeria Alta..." Cowan p.658; Hill, Pacific Voyages, p.307; Howes V69; (Wheat, Transmississippi 138, Vol. I p.85); Zamorano 80 #78. Lot Amendments Condition: Rubbing and edge wear to covers, corners showing; marginal darkening to prelim. and latter leaves (including frontispieces) from the leather used in binding, most pronounced in second volume, frontispiece of Vol. I laid on backing sheet, map with 2" stub tear with earlier cloth tape repair on verso, overall very good. Item number: 229034