Wallace, Alfred Russel

i) A Narrative of Travels on the Amazon and the Rio Negro. Reeve and Co., 1853, 8vo, first edition, first issue, tinted lithographed frontispiece, 8 lithographed plates, map, folding table, later three-quarter morocco; ii) Palm Trees of the Amazon and their Uses. John van Voorst, 1853, 8vo, first edition, map frontispiece and 47 lithographed plates, original green cloth decorated in blind, spine faded, some spotting and browning (2)

Both Borba de Moraes p.933

Wallace's exhibition to the Amazon, on which he set out in 1848 at the age of 25, established his reputation as a naturalist. After four years studying the geography and biology of the area he began his journey home but within a few days of setting sail, his brig caught fire destroying the majority of his collection of specimens and samples. Eventually rescued ten days later, he returned to England with only a few notes and drawings from which he compiled these two titles which were published the year after his return.

This lot is being sold by the Charles Darwin Trust to fund the gift of Quentin Keynes’ remaining collection of important Darwin and Wallace books and manuscripts to the Linnean Society, for use in their educational programmes.