ZARATE Augustin Histoire de la découverte et de la conquête du Pérou.

Sabin, 106266; JCB, IIIrd part/II, 2012.

Interesting French translation. Agustin de Zarate was a high official who served as secretary to the Royal Council of Castile for 15 years. In 1543, Charles V sent him to Peru along with Blasco Nunez Vela, the first viceroy of Peru, to oversee finances. Although a prudent man, he could not avoid getting involved in the ongoing conflict, and he apparently favored Gonzalo Pizarro’s faction. In 1545, he returned to Spain, bringing with him a considerable collection of personal notes and other documents about the civil war. With the help of these and other published sources, Zarate composed this book starting with the Spanish discovery of Peru and ending with the death of Gonzalo Pizarro and the restoration of royal authority by governor Pedro de la Gasca.

A fine copy illustrated with lovely plates and maps. 

[Together with the follwing book in identical bindings] : SOLIS, Antonio de. Histoire de la conquête du Mexique ou de la Nouvelle Espagne. Sixième édition. Paris, Compagnie des Libraires, 1774. 2 volumes 12mo. XVIII, 574 pp., 1 nn.l., 11 engraved plates including maps for volume I; XII, 524 pp., 4 engraved plates including maps for volume II.

Sabin, 86480; not in JCB.

Renowned for his historical knowledge, his taste for letters, and his kind nature, Solis was invited to become secretary to Philip IV, at the court, and in 1666 he was charged with the important function of ‘cronista mayor’, the historiographer for the Indies. Only two years before his death, his famous history of Mexico was published, a wonderful historical work with literary qualities that became immediately very populare: nearly 50 Spanish editions appeared until the middle of the nineteenth century. The work starts with the author defending himself for writing a separate description of Mexico, after which he describes South America before the Spanish arrived, as well as the situation in Spain at the time.

The present edition contains nice maps and illustrations, like a general map of Mexico, some views of sailing ships, a view of Mexico-city, a large folding bird’s eye view of Tezeuco, a map of the area surrounding the lake of Mexico, a view of the Temple, a representation of mexican dancing, views of battles…  A fine copy of these 2 important books.