Cuzco: A Journey to the Ancient Capital of Peru;: With an account of the history, language, literature, and antiquities of the Incas. And Lima: A Visit to the Capital and Provinces of Modern Peru; with a sketch of the viceregal government, history of the republic, and a review of the literature and socie

London: Chapman and Hall,, 1856. First edition of geographer and explorer Markham's handsome history and account of ancient and contemporary Peru, including chapters on the language, literature, and landscape. A bright copy in the original attractive cloth featuring some of Vincent Brook's earliest lithographs. Clements Robert Markham (1830-1916) was the youngest member of the 1850 expedition to find John Franklin, who had left England in search of the north-west passage. Upon his return from the Arctic, Markham set out for Peru, which he had originally visited as a naval cadet. Following his arrival in 1852, Markham spent over a year visiting and researching Peruvian history and culture, which he compiled in this work. He returned to Peru in 1859 and was responsible for the collection of cinchona plants. Octavo. Original green cloth, spine lettered in gilt, spine and covers with ivy decorations and rulings in blind, decoration of walking Inca in gilt to front cover, pale yellow endpapers. Chromolithograph frontispiece, and 7 similar plates, folding map to rear, additional map tipped-in to rear free endpaper. Ownership inscription of "B. B. Luin[?]" to front free endpaper. Spine sunned and slightly cocked, ends nicked and with neat repairs, minor marks to front cover, extremities lightly bumped, rear inner hinge cracked but holding, occasional foxing to contents, front cover gilt bright. A very good copy.