Gilij | Saggio di storia americana, Rome, 1780-1784, 4 volumes

GILIJ, FILIPPO SALVADORE

Saggio di storia americana o sia Storia naturale, civile, e sacra de regni, e delle provincie Spagnuole di Terra-ferma nell'America meridionale. Rome: Luigi Perego Salvioni, 1780-1784

4 volumes, 8vo (215 x 136mm.), woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces, volume 1: folding engraved map of the Orinoco, 3 folding engraved plates; volume 2: half-title, engraved map of the Orinoco, 5 folding engraved plates; volume 3: half-title; volume 4: folding engraved map of New Granada, contemporary vellum, flat spines with gilt lettering, [Sabin 27382], occasional light foxing or browning, library stamp removed from B3 in each volume; vol.1: lacking half-title, occasional wear or repairs to pages

Gilij (1721-1789), a Jesuit priest in the mission to Caracas, is considered a important figure in the history of South American language and linguistics. Forced to leave South America in 1767 he returned to Italy and composed this impressive treatise based on his researches and observations of more than 20 years' residence there. This detailed treatise was one of the sources used by Alexander von Humbolt to prepare for his South American expedition of 1799-1804.

PROVENANCE:

G.S., ink stamp on title-pages dated 1824; Hans Kolb, ink stamps