CIEZA DE LEÓN, Pedro de (1518-60). La Chronica del Peru. Antwerp: Martin Nucio, 1554. 8° (151 x 92mm). Device on title, 41 woodcut illustrations, woodcut initials. (Repair affecting a few letters on title, a few small marginal repairs, occasional light soiling.) Red morocco by Brugalla, 1945, gilt supralibros, gilt spine-lettering, turn-ins and edges. Provenance: purchased from Librería Babra, 1937.

CIEZA DE LEÓN, Pedro de (1518-60). La Chronica del Peru. Antwerp: Martin Nucio, 1554. 8° (151 x 92mm). Device on title, 41 woodcut illustrations, woodcut initials. (Repair affecting a few letters on title, a few small marginal repairs, occasional light soiling.) Red morocco by Brugalla, 1945, gilt supralibros, gilt spine-lettering, turn-ins and edges. Provenance: purchased from Librería Babra, 1937.

Second or third edition with memorable woodcuts. The first edition appeared in Seville in 1553, and the two Antwerp editions which then followed in 1554 have uncertain priority. Pedro de Cieza de León travelled in South America as official chronicler to Pedro de la Gasca, who was sent out to Peru between 1547 and 1550, as first president of the court of justice. Although his Chronicle of Peru was written in four parts, only the first part is printed here, no others appearing until the late 19th-century. The woodcuts are based on those in the first edition. They include a small view of Lake Titicaca, Potosi and Cuzco, and are among the earliest illustrations of Indians. Sabin 13045; Peeters-Fontainas 256; Palau III, 54648.