RELATION ABREGEE D'UN VOYAGE FAIT DANS L'INTERIEUR DE L'AMERIQUE MERIDIONALE, Depuis la Cote de la Mer du Sud, jusqu'aux Cotes du Bresil & de la Guyane, en descendant La Rivier e des Amazones. . . Augmentie de la Relation. . .

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379 pp. This "nouvelle" (New) edition includes notes and correspondence with Mdm. Godine, a story in itself (her husband waited almost twenty years for her arrival from Ecuador via the Amazon River to join him). Later quarter calf; gilt lettering across black spine label; marble boards; fp.; fold-out map; Binding tight; externally and internally pristine copy. See additional images provided. La Condamine was the first scientist to study and explore the Amazon/Andes region; and is credited with being the first European to discover platinum and rubber. The map is significant in that is the first map (published in the 1st ed., 1745) of the Amazon basin in which latitudes are observed. The same Amazon map is published here. Quoting Borba 446: "La Condamine is renowned in history not only for the works he published about the voyage, but also for the vast number of anecdotes which display his insatiable curiosity. . . of importance from the Brazilian aspect is the fact that La Condamine decided to return to France via Brazil, which entailed sailing down the Amazon from its source to Para; the Relation contains the description of this journey. It is of great importance, because for the first time the long course of the Amazon was penetrated by a man of science capable of making astronomic observations, and determining longitudes. Written in a very lively and picturesque style, the Relation is full of interesting and curious observations. One of La Condamine's preoccupations was to verify the existence of the women known as 'Amazons'. Borba says this Maestricht edition is more difficult to find than the Paris (1745) edition. The two last letters (Lettre de M.D.L.C.a M. . . Sur le sort des Astronomes. . . and Lettre de M. Godin des Odonais, a M.de La Condamine) are printed here for the first time." La Condamine also credited with bringing quinine and curare to Europe for the first time. Size: Sm. 8vo. 0.0. N° de ref. del artículo 3432

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