Wallace, Alfred Russel

FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE (see footnote), 8vo (222 x 135mm.), viii, 542pp., [ii]+16pp. adverts, map, 9 plates [1 tinted], 1 folding table, original blindstamped brown cloth, yellow endpapers, slipcase

Arthur C. Cooper, Markree Castle, bookplate; Jeremy Norman, sale in these rooms 11 December 1992 ("Darwin's Century: the Jeremy Norman Collection"), lot 390

Borba de Moraes p.933

Wallace's expedition 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 this work and Palm Trees of the Amazon (see lot 1313) which were published the year after his return.

The total number of copies of this edition was 750, of which 250 were reissued in a remainder green cloth binding.