Essai politique sur le Royaume de la Nouvelle Espagne de Humboldt, Alexandre von; [Bonpland, Aime] - 1811

“Of superlative California importance” (Howes), in contemporary binding. 1811. Paris. P. F. Schoell. Five volumes in 8vo (206 mm x 125 mm; map 760 mm x 535 mm). 1 [blank] + 2 ff. + iii + 456 + 1 [blank]; 1 [blank] + 2 ff. + 522 + 1 [blank]; 1 [blank] + 2 ff. + 419 + 1 [blank]; 1 [blank] + 2 ff. + 564 + 2 ff.; 1 [blank] + 2 ff. + 350 + 1 ff. + 1 [blank] + folding large map of Mexico and folding chart. Contemporary French calf, boards with gilt fillet and floral tooling with interlacing fillet, spines flat with double morocco lettering pieces lettered in gilt and elegantly gilt; a handsome contemporary binding very well preserved, only slightly rubbed and worn. A fine copy, remarkably fresh and clean; the important folding map is also in excellent condition, usually found dirty and foxed, here in a clean and fresh example. First edition in 8vo, and a handsome printing. The map that illustrates this edition “Carte du Mexique et des Pays Limitrophes situés au Nord et á L´Est” is without doubt one of the most significant contributions to Mexico´s cartography of the 19th century and an exceedingly important map of the Southwest, including Texas and California, considered a cornerstone by Streeter and covering most of Central America, the Caribbean and southern United States. Humboldt (1769 – 1859) was a famed German traveler, geographer, astronomer, geologist and naturalist, arguably one of Europe´s leading men of science of the first half of the 19th century; having been received favorably and invited by the Spanish Crown in 1799 to the region –where he stayed until 1804 along with Aime Bonpland-, Humboldt had access to virtually all sources of information, even unpublished ones. While residing in Mexico City, he searched the Spanish and Mexican archives for geographical information later included in his maps; hence it includes the most up-to-date information available to date, particularly of the territory under the influence of the Viceroyalty of New Spain (Mexico, New Mexico, Texas and California). “Of superlative California importance” (Howes). Howes, H-786. Sabin, 33713.