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HUMBOLDT (ALEXANDER VON) Political Essay on the Kingdom of New Spain Containing Researches Relative to the Geography of Mexico, the Extent of its Surface and its Political Division into Intendancies, vol. 1-2 (of 4) and Atlas volume, Longman, Hurst, [etc.], 1811 (3) image 1
HUMBOLDT (ALEXANDER VON) Political Essay on the Kingdom of New Spain Containing Researches Relative to the Geography of Mexico, the Extent of its Surface and its Political Division into Intendancies, vol. 1-2 (of 4) and Atlas volume, Longman, Hurst, [etc.], 1811 (3) image 2
Lot 38

HUMBOLDT (ALEXANDER VON)
Political Essay on the Kingdom of New Spain Containing Researches Relative to the Geography of Mexico, the Extent of its Surface and its Political Division into Intendancies, vol. 1-2 (of 4) and Atlas volume, Longman, Hurst, [etc.], 1811 (3)

Ending from 19 November 2025, 12:00 GMT
Online, London, Knightsbridge

£800 - £1,200

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HUMBOLDT (ALEXANDER VON)

Political Essay on the Kingdom of New Spain Containing Researches Relative to the Geography of Mexico, the Extent of its Surface and its Political Division into Intendancies, vol. 1-2 (of 4) and Atlas volume, first English edition, Atlas with 2 aquatint plates, 4 engraved maps, charts and plans (3 folding), and 3 folding engraved profile sections, plates with some scattered spotting/damp-staining, 'Map of New Spain' with small tear at one of the folds, contemporary marginal annotations on 3 pages in volume 2, one blank corner torn away, modern half calf over marbled boards gilt, light wear [Howes H786; Sabin 33715], 8vo, Longman, Hurst, [etc.], 1811 (3)

Footnotes

"Of superlative California importance" (Howes). The "A Map of New Spain from 16º to 38º North Latitude," which includes present Texas, New Mexico and Arizona is of particular interest being a reduced version of Humboldt's landmark map of the Southwest, which was, at the time, the most important and accurate map of the region. "The rare English edition; a cornerstone in any collection on Mexico. Complete sets with the atlas of maps and plates are now extremely scarce" (Hill I, pp.149-150).

Provenance: Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh, with ink inscription "Ex Libris Societatis Regiae Medicae Edinburgensis" on title-page of volume 2.

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