Das Merkwürdigste aus der malerischen Reise in Brasilien.

Schaffhausen, J. Brodtmann, 1836. With 40 lithographed plates. 2 cols. 51 pp. Folio (360 x 260 mm). Modern half calf over marbled boards, gilt lettering on spine. Schaffhausen, J. Brodtmann, 1836. A famous pictorial travel account on Brazil at the beginning of the 19th century consisting of 6 parts. The first part is a description in German printed in two columns, and the other five parts are each a collection of fine lithographed plates on the following topics: Landscapes of Brazil, views of Rio de Janeiro, portraits and costumes of the Indians, manners and customs of the Indians, portraits and costumes of the Negroes and life and costumes of the Negroes. The two last parts also contain an elaborate study on the slave trade with its inhuman conditions on the slave ships, registration processes by the authorities and the slave markets. Further depictions show the slave lodgings, slaves at work and punishment. Various plates also show the ethnicity of the slaves from such places as Cabinda, Rebolla, Congo, Benguella, Mina, etc. Two of the plates are not the work of Rugendas, but were taken from Wied-Neuwied, Reise nach Brasilien. Frankfurt am Main, 1820-1821. Moritz Rugendas (Augsburg 1802-1858 Weilheim an der Teck) joined an expedition of Baron von Langsdorff to Brazil and is considered being the most varied and important of the European artists to visit Latin America. Rugendas' work became one of most important documents about Brazil in the 19th century. King Maximilian II of Bavaria acquired most of his works. - Text and plates slightly foxed, some marginal staining, otherwise a nice copy. - Bosch 414; Lonchamp 2567a; Sabin 73954; cf. Borba de Moraes II, 754; Berger, p. 257. GEOGRAPHY: TRAVEL ; BRAZIL; SOUTH AMERICA ; HELVETICA ;