South America - Paraguay Azara, Felix de Descripcion é historia del Paraguay y del Rio de la Plata. 2 vols. With 1 portrait of the author in steel engraving as frontispiece, as well as 1 wood engraved title and 1 wood engraved final vignette. Madrid, Sanchez, 1847. 3 pp. (frontispiece, title, frontispiece), IV, 347 (1) pp. and 2 pp. (frontispiece, title), 286 pp., 1 pp. (contents) Cl.-4°. Flamed and sprinkled. Central binding with decor. Rgoldtit. and volume number on leather label and multicoloured, stone marbled endpapers. Stone marble endpapers. Rare first edition of Azara's pioneering description of Paraguay. - Sabin, J. Dictionary of books relating to America from its discovery to the present time, vol. I, 2534 - Palau y Dulcet, A. Manual del librero hispano-americano, vol. 1, p. 148 - Henze, D. Enzyklopädie der Entdecker und Erforscher der Erde, vol. I, p. 123f. ("Partially more complete than the French edition.") - Felix de Azara (1746-1821) is considered "the first scientific explorer of the La Plata countries" (Henze). - Although several editions with Azara's texts on Paraguay had already been published in French translation since 1801, this posthumous edition represents the first. According to Henze, this edition, which was printed posthumously in an edition of only 500 copies, is the most comprehensive publication on the subject to date. - Of great rarity in the trade, only one copy can be traced for us at auctions in the last 60 years. - Provenance: Mariano B. Berro (1833-1919), Uruguayan botanist, author and politician, with his owner's stamps and dated (1873) signatures on the title pages and dated (1869) purchase notes on the front endpapers recto. - Bindings somewhat bumped at the corners, rubbed at the edges, paper partly browned and slightly foxed in places, otherwise a well-preserved copy of this rare work in representative leather bindings. South America - With steel-engraved portrait of the author as frontispiece, as well as 1 title and 1 futher wood-engraved vignette. - Particularly rare first edition of Azara's pioneering description of Paraguay. - Felix de Azara (1746-1821) is considered 'the first scientific explorer of the La Plata countries' (Henze). - Although several editions with some of Azara's texts on Paraguay had already been published from the Spanish manuscript in French translation since 1801, this posthumous edition represents the true first. According to Henze, present edition, which was printed posthumously in an edition of only 500 copies, is the most comprehensive publication on the subject to date. - Of great rarity, only one copy traceable for us at auctions in the last 60 years. - Provenance: Mariano B. Berro (1833-1919), Uruguayan botanist, author and politician, with his signed and dated (1873) owner's stamp on both title pages and dated (1869) purchasing note on the recto of both front covers. - Bindings somewhat bumped at corners, slightly worn at edges, paper partly time-stained and slightly foxed in places, otherwise a well-preserved copy of this rare work in representative leather bindings. This lot is taxed. A premium of 24.95% will be added to the hammer price and 7% (books, art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints, photographs) to the final invoice amount in the European Union. This work is subject to the regular margin scheme. There is a 24.95% buyer's premium on the hammer price and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offsetprints and Photographs) on the final invoice amount in the European Union.