SOLIS (Antonio de). History of the conquest of Mexico or New - Lot 232

SOLIS (Antonio de). History of the conquest of Mexico or New Spain. Translated from the Spanish Paris, Pepie, 1691. Fort in-4, [15] f., 630 pp, [13] f. (table), pl., basane, ornate ribbed spine, tan morocco title-piece, mottled edges, restorations (epidermures on the boards, a few freckles and minor defects, a few plates slightly browned at the folds, small tear with slight lack of paper on p. 567, a few ff. slightly browned). Rare first edition in French, translated by André Bon, Comte de Broé, Seigneur de Citri et de La Guette, of this history of Mexico by Antoine de Solis. It is illustrated with two maps and 12 fine copper-engraved plates by M. Fouard, including 10 fold-outs. This is the main historical work by Antoine de Solis (Antonio de Solís y Ribadeneyra, 1610-1686), published in Madrid in 1684 under the title "Historia de la conquista de México, población y progresos de la América septentrional, conocida por el nombre de Nueva España". The author drew on the writings of Francisco López de Gómara and the information and maps of the conquistadors Bernal Díaz del Castillo and Hernán Cortés. The work was a huge success, and was soon translated into Italian, French and English. A Spanish dramatist and historian, de Solis served as Secretary of State to King Philip IV of Spain, and was appointed Historiographer of the Indies. Handwritten note on title: "par Citri de La Guette". Provenance: L. Dagobert (?; handwritten name at foot of title). (Leclerc, Bibl. americana 1417; Boucher de la Richarderie VI, 159; Sabin 86475).