Lot 213: VIDAL, EMERIC ESSEX.

PICTURESQUE ILLUSTRATIONS OF BUENOS AYRES AND MONTE VIDEO... ACCOMPANIED WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SCENERY, AND OF THE COSTUMES, MANNERS, &C. OF THE INHABITANTS OF THOSE CITIES AND THEIR ENVIRONS. LONDON: R. ACKERMANN, 1820

first edition, 4to (335 x 268mm.), 24 hand-coloured aquatint plates after Vidal, 4 double-page, publisher's red cloth, upper cover lettered in gilt, flat spine lettered and decorated in gilt, occasional very slight offsetting onto plates, spine slightly worn, covers slightly soiled, corners bumped

LITERATURE

Abbey, Travel 698; Tooley (1954) 495; Sabin 99460; Colas 3000; Palau 363371

NOTE

vidal's magnificent series of argentinian views, rarely found in the original cloth, with early watermarks (1818 throughout, whereas Abbey's copy was watermarked 1820). One of the few colour plate books devoted to Argentina and Uruguay, of which 750 copies were published, together with a further 20 large paper copies. Vidal (1788?-1862) served as a purser for over fifty years with the British Navy. He accompanied the Portuguese Royal Family to South America and served 1820-1821 as Secretary to Admiral Lambert at St Helena. The fine colour plates include views of Buenos Aires, a horse race, Pampa Indians, stage-coach travelling, ostriches, gauchos, the plaza and market place of Buenos Aires.