THE ROYAL COMMENTARIES OF PERU, IN TWO PARTS. The First Part: Treating of the Original of their Incas or Kings; the Second Part: Describing the manner by which that new World was conquered by the Spaniards. Translated by Sir Paul Rycaut.

London: by Miles Flesher for Richard Tonson, 1688. First Edition in English. This copy has two title pages, one with the Tonson imprint rubricated (black and red), the other with the Heyrick imprint in black only. Sabin states: “As some copies have only the black titles and some only the rubricated ones, while others have both, it seems possible that all the issues were originally published with two titles.” Engraved portrait frontispiece of translator Paul Rycaut, the rubricated title page in red and black, and 10 copperplate engravings. Folio, an especially handsome copy, bound in its original contemporary speckled English calf, the spine with raised bands, the compartments with floriated panels decorated in gilt, red morocco lettering piece gilt, the covers with a border decorations rolled in blind and double-filleted rules at the borders. 1019. A superb copy of this rare and early work. The book remains in its original binding. The text-block is crisp, clean and unpressed, The engraved illustrations are all in excellent condition. A truly wonderful copy and especially fine survival of a book rarely if ever found in such condition. RARE FIRST EDITION OF THIS HIGHLY IMPORTANT EARLY HISTORY OF THE INCAN CIVILIZATION AND OF THE CONQUEST OF PERU BY THE SPANISH. De la Vega was a prince of Incan royalty by virtue of his mother, who was descended from the last Incan King of Peru. He took great pride in his Incan ancestry, styling himself “Garcilasso Inca” and becoming a dedicated student of the Peruvian language and traditions. However, the translator also tells us that “the Spanish humour was most prevalent in him, so that he delighted much to tell us, as in diverse places, that he was [also] the son of Garcilasso de la Vega, one of the first Conquerours of the new World...” Such an illustrious ancestry provides for a rendering of the history of the Incan civilization from a unique point of view.
The first section of the text details the early history of the Incas before the Spanish conquest, including their laws and government and other “particulars relating to their Empire and Policies.” The second part details the Spanish conquest and the various civil wars and rebellions that came along with them and after them. The first part was published in Lisbon in 1609, and the second part in 1617. This edition is the first English translation by Sir Paul Rycaut. This is a classic work, comprehensive and painstakingly researched, and remains today one of the chief authorities on the subject of ancient Peru.