This is an Antwerp edition of the work of Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas first published in eight ‘Decades’ in 1601-15. It was published by Juan Bautista Verdussen, a notable family of publishers in the Low Countries for much of the eighteenth century. Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas (1559‐1625) was born in the region of Segovia into a noble family. He became the official Spanish historian to King Philip II, III, and IV of Spain and as such had remarkable access to the archives. Indeed, he was responsible for recording the Americas as early as 1596. In 1601 he published the ‘Description de las Indias Occidentales’, one of the most comprehensive histories of the America’s yet published. Many of Herrera’s sources have been lost to us over time which makes his work even more valuable.

This is one of the more sought-after editions of Herrera’s work based on the large number of plates provided. There are several decorative portraits of key figures in early American history. In the fourth volume is a fine folding map of the southern tip of South America entitled ‘Tabla Geographica del Reyno de Chile’. When first published by Alonso de Ovalle in a larger format in 1646, it was the first map of the region produced by someone living there. It is the most important early map of Chile and is reproduced here in a fine engraving. Its coverage extends northwards to Peru and Buenos Aires. The cities of Santiago and Concepcion in Chile are prominently displayed. Following the eight part in the fourth volume is a further work entitled ‘Descripcion de las Islas, y Tierra Firme del Mar Oceano, que llaman Indias Ocidentales’ with 2 large folding maps by Pierre van der Aa. Provenance: Libreria de Antaño 2001; Juan and Peggy Rada Collection. Brown (1980-97) 728/91; Martinic (1999) p. 210, no. 37; Palau (1948-77) 114289; Sabin (1868-1936) 31545; Wroth (1970) ‘Alonso de Ovalle’s Large Map of Chile, 1646’, in ‘Imago Mundi’ 14, pp. 90-95.