Translated by Albert Ramsey, a colonel in the American army, this book is one of the best sources on the conduct of the war. It is critical of General Santa Anna.

The author was bound for California on the schooner L. Pringle, when he was captured by the Patagonians, with whom he stayed for two years. After his escape, he at last made it to the California gold mines in 1850.

Cervantes was born in 1898 and was a prominent engineer and restorer of ancient monuments in Mexico. Among his major publications, however, are collections of photographs of colonial Mexican cities and states, including Guanajuato. He also published several volumes of historical documents and papers. He died in 1953.

Nicolas de Fer was geographer to the French royal family and was known for his elegant cartography. Maps were often used to support the land claims of one country against its rivals, in this case France and Spain.

This work created a sensation when it was first published in 1648. Gage was a Dominican missionary who later joined the Church of England. This work is "the first to give the World a description of the vast regions from which all foreigners had been jealously excluded by the Spanish authorities. It is supposed to have incited the attacks on the Spanish territories and colonies during Cromwell’s time."

Maria Graham traveled extensively with her father, Admiral George Dundas, and then with her husband, Captain Thomas Graham, who died in 1822 during their trip to South America. She returned to London in 1824, and in 1827 married Sir Augustus Wall Callcott, the celebrated artist. She died in 1842, after being an invalid for several years. Her many works include travels to India, Rome, Brazil, and Chile; essays on artists; and, her most famous, Little Arthur’s History of England.

Humboldt was a great German scientist and explorer, and Bonpland was a botanist. They made an expedition to America in 1799-1804 and sought to investigate geography, botany, zoology, archaeology, and native customs. This book "is most notable for its remarkable aquatint plates of scenes in South and Central America, particularly the magnificent double-page plate of the great volcano of Chimborazo in the Andean highlands. . . . Humboldt’s treatment of [codices] is a landmark in the rediscovery of pre-Columbian civilizations."

De L’Isle became the Royal Geographer of France in 1718. His scientific approach to cartography created maps of great accuracy and influence. His maps were widely copied, particularly those of the Americas.

Kidder and Fletcher were sent to Brazil as missionaries in 1837. Because of their observations and flair for description, their work is "infinitely better than most books about foreign lands by missionaries." In fact, it "became a classic book about Brazil for North Americans."

The British fleet unsuccessfully besieged Carthagena in March and April, 1741, even with the aid of over 5,000 land troops. This bungled effort led to many state inquiries in which the untried nature of the officers and the men, and the poor condition of the arms and ordnance, were brought to light. The deplorable treatment of the common British sailor in this campaign was satirically portrayed by Tobias Smollett in his Roderick Random.

In order to measure the latitude of Peru, La Condamine chose "the dangerous course of crossing Brazil by navigating the Amazon. His account of this journey was ‘of . . . great importance, because for the first time the long course of the Amazon was traversed by a man of science capable of making astronomic observations, and determining longitudes’ (Borba de Moraes). The engraved map of the river acompanying the text was drawn by La Condamine, and is the first in which the latitudes were observed."

This production is a special edition made to honor the 25^th anniversary of the first appearance of this famous Argentinian historical novel. It is bound in horsehair and rawhide.

Known as Neuva recopilación, these volumes contain a compilation of the Spanish laws that were published by Philip V. They contain royal decrees, laws of the Catholic Church, judicial judgments, laws of provincial governors and courts, and specific laws relating to the governance and trade of Spanish America. The compilation of these latter laws became known as Recopilación de las leyes de las Indias.

One of the most widely distributed maps showing Texas as a new state. It was accompanied by a booklet for emigrants containing geographical and cultural information. Mitchell’s maps "were among the most popular and influential in distributing new knowledge about American expansion to a growing, eager audience."

Münster was a fine example of a Renaissance humanist. He was schooled in Latin and Greek, was a professor of Hebrew, and was the "foremost German cartographer of his day." His great work, Cosmographia universalis, was first published in 1544, with additional maps added in later editions. His map of the New World reveals that he depended on both factual sources (the voyages of Verrazzano and Magellan) and fanciful accounts describing South America as the region of giants and cannibals. His use of the name "America" did much to solidify this designation in the minds of Europeans. "Münster’s map of the New World was probably the single most widely distributed map of America of the age."

After experience as a lawyer and a judge, Paz Soldán was sent as minister to Colombia and then journeyed to the United States, where he studied the penitentiary system. He established an improved system in Peru and was made director of public works. Subsequently, he became minister of foreign relations and of justice. He died in 1886.

This Atlas was published by the order of President Castilla of Peru. It contains many detailed maps of geographic features, plans of cities, and splendid lithographs of city views and native peoples.

First Italian edition of this classic account of the conquest of Mexico by Cortés in 1520. "Undoubtedly the most popular history of America" in its time, it also contains "an abundance of data concerning the intimate lives of the Indians—their religious creed and rites, idols, hymns; their industries, arts; games and recreations, not the least of which were represented by Montezuma’s court jesters; [and] their methods of education."

In 1839 and again in 1841 Stephens and Frederick Catherwood traveled to Central America to discover and examine its archaeological sites. First published in 1841, this work has been called "probably the most widely read book on American archaeology." In particular because of detailed and clear illustrations, it was the first publication "to awaken interest in the Antiquities of Central America." He became a director of the American Ocean Steam Navigation Company and the president of the Panama Railway company. He died in 1852.

This is the first printing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the war with Mexico and gave to the United States a vast territory including California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Ward was sent to Mexico as minister plenipotentiary in 1823, returning to England in late 1827. Subsequently, he was appointed governor of Ceylon. This is a classic book on Mexico and Texas in the 1820s. "In addition to its historic importance for Mexico and Texas, this set is also interesting for 19^th century illustration in that it contains black and white and handcolored lithographs, aquatints, wood engravings, and copper engraved maps."

This work chronicles Whitney’s five voyages by canoe through Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela. He was an astute observer of nature, and his story is illustrated with his photographs.