A Voyage to the South Sea and Along the Coasts of Chili and Peru.
Frezier, Msr.
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Book Id: 1241
Description
Frezier, Amedee F. A Voyage to the South Sea and Along the Coasts of Chili and Peru. J. Bowyer; London 1717. Sml. 4to, (xiv) 335pp, 9pp index. Frontis & 37 maps & plates, mostly folding. LACKS plate 5 at page 33. Orig. full blind stamped calf with a nice old reback. Corners rubbed & bumped o/w vgc. Early golfing plate is present. Hill p.115. Frezier was a French royal military engineer sent to South America. The first part of the book relates the voyage from France around Cape Horn. The second part details the voyage long the coasts of Chile & Peru, describing the chief towns and cities. In addition to bringing back information of considerable geographical and scientific value, including an interesting account of guano, Frezier introduced strawberries to France from Chile, called in french "fraises". Hill notes that "the first English translation contains the same engravings as the French original, but is preferable to the latter because it contains Halley's (of comet fame) postscript, which corrects certain geographical errors made by Frezier... The frontispiece map, showing the route, was created for the English edition..." Included in Spence (#482) because it includes 2 trips south of Cape Horn and within sight of the ice. Plate 9 shows "An Indian of Chile in the posture of playing at La Sueca, a Sort of Bandy" which is widely regarded as the earliest depiction of a form of golf.
