Search Results: Colonial History from ARTEM

The rarest book from the first printing press in the Arab World
Annuaire de la République Française, calculé pour le méridien du Kaire, l'an VIII de l'ere Française.
Cairo, de l'Imprimerie Nationale, an VIII [1799/1800].
4⁰. 119 pp. With a woodcut printer's device on title. Contemporary red painted paper wrappers.
One of the first books from the first printing press in the Arab World. The first issues from the Imprimerie Nationale are true incunabula of Arab printing and all are very rare. Most elusive amongst these is the present first almanac. We traced no copies in Arab or American libraries. The press lasted only until 1801.
The Imprimerie Nationale was set up when Napoleon traveled to Egypt in 1798: "an extraordinarily important turning point" (Glass & Roper). The French Republic aimed to bring progress wherever they arrived. In the case of Egypt this permanently changed the Arab World. Progress was predominantly expressed in administrative reform, of which the present almanac is typical… Read More

Almanac from the first printing press in the Arab world
Annuaire de la République Française, calculé pour le méridien du Kaire, l'an IX de l'ère Française.
Cairo, de l'Imprimerie Nationale, an IX [1800/1801].
4⁰. 1-58, [4], 61- 68 pp., [2], 48 pp. With a woodcut printer's device on title.
Contemporary blank paper covers.
One of the first books from the first printing press in the Arab World. The issues from the Imprimerie Nationale are true incunabula of Arab printing and all are very rare. The press lasted only until 1801.
The Imprimerie Nationale was set up when Napoleon traveled to Egypt in 1798: "an extraordinarily important turning point" (Glass & Roper). The French Republic aimed to bring progress wherever they arrived. In the case of Egypt this permanently changed the Arab World. Progress was predominantly expressed in administrative reform, of which the present almanac is typical product. It was crucial for an almanac (Annuaire) to appear at the new press as soon as possible because… Read More

Confidential diplomatic letter,
laying out the opportunities for a new Dutch-Cuban sugar trade company
Guillermo Lobé (1785-1883).
[Autograph letter signed].
Havana, June 18, 1827.
4to. 13, [3 blank] pp. Ink on laid paper, with a watercolour drawing on a larger 4to loose wove paper sheet dated 1827.
Important confidential manuscript letter by the Dutch-Spanish diplomat Guillermo Lobé, in which he lays out the commercial and geo-political situation of Cuba in detail. The letter is accompanied by a drawing that possibly depicts a valley in Cuba and is dated on verso in ink 1827.
In the densely written 12-page letter he writes to an anonymous "old family friend", who he met in Antwerp. Apparently this friend was was planning to establish a Dutch-Cuban sugar trade company or "Société du Commerce" and asked Lobé to provide him with information about the international trade in Cuba and Havana in particular. Lobé praises the commercial opportunities of the island and predicts a great future for its… Read More

Raynal on Central American colonial history
[Guillaume-Thomas François "Abbé" Raynal (1713-1796)].
Autograph manuscript.
No place, [after 1777-1796].
4°. 1 p. on laid paper with fleur-de-lis watermark. With a loose engraved portrait of Raynal.
Extensive autograph notes in French by Abbé Raynal on William Robertson's history of Central America in The History of America (1777), particularly discussing Mexican early colonial history. This autograph is not signed but based on matches with other signed autographs by Raynal we can safely attribute it to him.Raynal was a leading 18th century opponent of colonialism and slavery, best known for his Histoire philosophique et politique des établissements et du commerce des Européens dans les deux Indes (1770), a veritable encyclopedia of anti-colonialism in the 18th century in which he bitingly denounces slavery. The manuscript that we offer here is a striking example of his method of compiling other authors' works, in this case that of Robertson. Wiliam… Read More

Description of the world with 645 plates: a rare complete copy

Alain Manesson Mallet (1630-1706).
Beschreibung des gantzen Welt-Kreises, darinnen I. […] V.
Frankfurt, Anton Heinscheidt for Johann Adam Jung, 1719.
5 volumes in 2. 8°. (IX), (VIII), (IV), 263, (1); 276, (24); 170 (22); 519, (1 blank), (XLV), (1 blank); 418, (LXXXIV) pp. = complete with errata leaves.With 645 plates (618 numbered, 5 frontispieces, 17 portraits, 5 unnumbered or wrongly numbered plates). The main title in vol. 1 erroneously mentions 650 plates. See full index of plates below.
An exceptionally rare complete copy of Alain Manesson Mallet's "Description of the World". This remarkable work, here in the second edition of the German translation, provides the reader with a guide to countless places in the world, divided in four parts: Africa, America, Asia and Europe. This is preceded by an introduction to cosmography and geography. The illustrations show maps, cities, people and particularities of the places that are… Read More

Indigenous burial rites prohibited
Isidoro Sainz de Alfaro y Beaumont; Pedro Ocón.
Circular, que dirige el Senor Gobernador de la Sagrada Mitra á los Parrocos, Eclesiasticos y Fieles Cristianos del Arzobispado de Mexico, sobre Ereccion de Cementerios fuera de las Poblaciones.
México City, Oficina de Doña María Fernández de Jaúregui, 1809.
8°. [2], 36 pp.
Contemporary marbled paper wrappers.
First and only edition of an explanation of the rules and regulations for burying the dead in the Archdiocese of Mexico. The rules for the Christian way of burial were not well observed by the local population. The rules of Christian burial were not well observed by the local population and this prompted the Archbishop of Mexico to commission his cousin the Inquisitor to write the current work. Author Isidoro Sainz de Alfaro y Beaumont was Inquisidor and the cousin of Archbishop And Viceroy Francisco Javier de Lizana y Beaumont. To make his point, he cites examples from the Old Testament that emphasize the… Read More

Founding document and constitution of the Republic of Colombia
Simón Bolívar (1783-1830).
Constitucion de la Republica de Colombia.
Rosario de Cucuta [but Bogotá], Bruno Espinosa, Impresor de Gob. Gral., 1821.- 11°.
4°. 66 pp. (lacks V pp. preliminaries). Collates: π, B-I4, [K1].
Later half calf with decorated paper sides.
First edition of the first constitution of Gran Colombia, known as the Constitution of Cúcuta. A monument of post-colonial liberty and arguably the most important book ever printed in Latin America. Gran Colombia consisted of current Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama, northern Peru, western Guyana and northwest Brazil. This is one of the very few copies that were printed of the first edition. A decree in this volume prints the order to reprint the constitution at Bogota in two or three thousand copies and to print one thousand copies of a Caracas edition. Rio and Philadelphia would also print editions in 1822.The publication of this document meant the realization of Simón… Read More

Rage against missions: a landmark anti-colonialist treatise
Haarlem, Joh. Enschedé en Zoonen & J. van Walré, 1807.
4°. [4], X, [2], 27, [1 blank], 296 pp. With two engraved medallions on the first title-page.
First edition of a landmark Dutch anti-colonialist and anti-missionary treatise. This controversial and heavily criticized work marks a shift in thinking about the Western influence around the world. It is a rare work and here in excellent. Only a few copies are recorded in libraries outside The Netherlands.
At the end of November 1803, the Teyler's Religious Society in Haarlem organized a competition. A treatise was to be prepared on the question, "What service have missionaries done to the propagation of true Christianity in the past two centuries, and what fruit is there been to expected from the present active missionary societies in this regard?". On November 30, 1804, Haafner's manuscript of 195 pages arrived. This turned out to be the only entry, making it inevitable to crown him the… Read More

Drawn studies of Indian boats in an English manuscript notebook

Cornelius Sanjev (?).
[Manuscript notebook]
Bengal, 1834.
4°. 26 pp., 20 ll. Paper watermarked RTassell 1831.
Manuscript textin ink, with 31 drawings in various inks and pencil.
Contemporary half dark green morocco with marbled sides.
Finely illustrated manuscript notebook of a trip to Bengal, India. The author had a particular interest in the boats that he or she encountered while sailing the rivers of Bengal: the notebook counts 14 large and 4 smaller drawings of various types of indigenous boats. Most were first sketched in pencil and then traced with ink. One drawing is signed with what seems like "Cornelius Sanjev", though we could not identify this person.The manuscript starts off as a ship's log of a journey from Portsmouth, England on Tuesday, March 11, 1834. They passed the Cape of Good Hope on May 15th. The author mentions names and destination of ships they encountered along the way, such as the Minerva from Liverpool bound… Read More

Wilson's first published Sanskrit translation, the first publication of the Meghadūta in the West
Kālidāsa (c. 4th–5th century CE); Horace Hayman Wilson (1786-1860, trans.).

The Megha Duta, or Cloud Messenger, a poem, in the Sanscrit language.

Calcutta printed: London reprinted, Black, Parry, and Co., 1814.

8°. XXII, 23-175 pp. Later half calf, marbled sides.First English translation of the Meghadūta, the most renowned text by India's greatest ancient poet. This famous Sanskrit love poem became popular in Europe in the early 19th century, chiefly because of the present translation by Horace Wilson. Written in the 4th-5th century by the Classical Sanskrit author Kālidāsa, it tells the story of a lover who sends his message to his beloved by a cloud. The present edition includes Wilson's commentaries on his translation of the ancient poem.
Translator Horace Wilson was the first professor of Sanskrit at Oxford. He made his name through his many translations of ancient Sanskrit texts. For… Read More

Royal colonial decree to improve the vital gunpowder production in New Spain
José de Gálvez y Gallardo (1720-1787); Marques Carlos Francisco de Croix (1699-1786).
Ordenanzas de la Real renta de la polvora para este Reyno de Nueva España, y Provincias de su comprension, que se administra de cuenta de su Magestad.
Reimpresas en Mexico, en la Imprenta Nueva Madrileña de Don Felipe de Zuñiga y Ontiveros, 1777.
Folio. [II], 40 pp. With an attractive etched Royal Spanish coat of arms on the title, signed "Naxera Ft." and a woodblock capital letter.
Modern stiff marbled paper covers, in linen made-to-measure case with title on front.
First edition of the second Royal decree on the production of gunpowder in Nueva España. The decree provides instruction and ordinance for the Real Fabrica de Pólvora and contains LVII articles. Among them, one is dedicated to "Indios para los trabajos de la Fábrica", in which forced labour is decreed upon the inhabitants of the factory's surrounding villages. Refusal of… Read More

Introducing drugs from around the world
João Curvo Semedo (1635-1719).
Polyanthea medicinal. Noticias galenicas, e chymicas, repartidas em tres tratados [...] Quarta vez impressa […].
Lisboa Occidental, Na Officina de Antonio Pedrozo Galram, 1727.
Folio in 6s. [60], 312, 317-879, [1 blank], 32, [4], 11, [1 blank], [1], [1 blank] pp. = complete with the advertisement leaf at the end and the 3 plates: an engraved frontispiece showing the Portuguese Royal coat-of-arms by J. Gomez, 1727; a full-page engraved portrait of the Archbishop of Lisbon Luís de Sousa by Claude Duflos, 1701; and an engraved portrait of the author João Curvo Semedo also by J. Gomez, 1727.
Contemporary sheep with gold-tooled spine and raised bands.
An important pioneering Portuguese guide to medicine from around the world. This rare fourth edition is of particular interest because it includes the list of drugs from other continents: Memorial de varios simplices que da India Oriental, da America. & de outras partes do mundo vem… Read More

Amongst the greatest histories of the New World
This copy a rare complete second edition


Antonio Herrera de Tordesillas (1549-1626).

Primera parte de la historia general del Mundo, de XVII. años del tiempo del señor Rey don Felipe II. el Prudente, desde el año de M.D.LIII. hasta el de M.D.LXX.

Valladolid, Juan Godinez de Millis, 1606 (colophon: Valladolid, Juan Godinez de Millis, 1605).
4° in 8s. [8], 820, [42] pp. Collates: x4, A-2Z8, 3A-3B6, x-2x8, 3x4.

[includes:]

Segunda parte de la historia general del Mundo, de XV. años del tiempo del señor Rey don Felipe II. el Prudente, desde el año de M.D.LXXI. hasta el de M.D.LXXXV.

Valladolid, [Juan Godinez de Millis], 1606 (colophon: Valladolid, Juan Godinez de Millis, 1605).
4° in 8s. [6], 630, [2 blank], [38] pp. Collates: π3, A-2Q8, 2R, π-3π3, [1 blank].

[includes:]

Tercera parte de la historia general del Mundo, de XIIII. años del tiempo del señor Rey don Felipe II. el prudente, desde el año de 1585. hasta el de 1598. que passò… Read More

Large VOC watercolour view of Porto Praia, Cape Verde
Johann Christian Friderici [= Frederici] (Heldburg 1766 - Cape Town 1804).
Prospect van het eyland, en de rheede van St. Iago. Geteekend van Johann Christian Friderici / Verbeelding van de inwoonders op St Iago.
Porto Praia, Cape Verde, 1783.
Watercolour with ruled black ink border on laid paper, watermarked Pro Patria with Maid of Dort. 29,5 x 120,5 cm.
The largest recorded early modern panoramic view of Cape Verde, by "the best VOC map maker in South Africa" (Koeman). This is his earliest known work.Santiago's Porto Praia is the main harbour of Cape Verde. It served as an important transportation hub of enslaved African people to the Americas and for the restocking of ships bound for the Cape with salt and fresh foods. These two functions of the island are depicted in the cartouche in the top right. It shows an African family and examples of livestock: a turkey and a goat. The man wears clothes that are also seen in depictions of plantation… Read More

Rare study on monkeys and other mammals of Paraguay: important influence on DarwinJohann Rudolf Rengger (1795-1832).
Naturgeschichte der Saeugethiere von Paraguay.
Basel, Schweighauser, 1830.
8vo. XVI, 394 pp. 19,5 x 12 cm.
Contemporary half calf with gold-tooled spine.

First and only edition of Johann Rudolf Rengger's study on mammals of Paraguay, in which he first describes the giant otter and makes important behavioural observations on monkeys that would influence Darwin's philosophy. In 1818 Rengger, a Swiss doctor, embarked on a scientific journey to the understudied region of Paraguay with the aim to research the natural history of the region and to collect specimens. Though he amassed a large collection of flora and fauna much of it was later confiscated by the Paraguayan government. He made extensive trips during which he observed the physical-geographical as well as the social and ethnographic situation. In 1825 he returned to Europe. His findings were posthumously published in the… Read More

Founding Royal ordinance for the Corps of Invalids of New Spain
Antonio Maria Bucareli y Ursua (1717-1779, Viceroy of New Spain).
Reglamento formado para el cuerpo de invalidos de Nueva España por el Excmo. Sr. Bailio Fr. D. Antonio Maria Bucareli y Ursua Virrey Governador y Capitan General de ella, aprobado por S. M. en Real Orden de trece de Junio de 1773.
Mexico City, Joseph Antonio de Hogal, 1774.
Folio. [2], 19, [1 blank] pp. Collates: π, A-D2, π.
With the woodcut Royal coat of arms on the title. Signature of Viceroy Bucareli in ink on the final page.
Modern stiff marbled paper covers, leaves remargined in order to match the size of the volume. In linen made-to-measure case with title on front.
Very rare first and only edition of the founding document for the establishment of the Corps of Invalids in the Viceroyalty of New Spain. This Royal ordinance marks a crucial step in the military organisation of the Spanish Americas and greatly expanded the colonial military presence there.The Cuerpo de… Read More