[Rarebooks] FS: "Proof Copy" of an important color plate book

[Mark Funke]

Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Customers:

We are offering a “PROOF COPY” OF AN IMPORTANT COLOR PLATE BOOK at a
reasonable price.

Link to photographs:

https://funkebooks.com/shop/twelve-views-of-the-interior-of-guiana/

Schomburgk, Robert Hermann. Proof Copy. Twelve Views of the Interior
of Guiana: From Drawings by Mr. Charles Bentley After Sketches Taken
During the Expedition, Carried on in the Years 1835 to 1839…London:
Ackermann and Co., 1841. 570 by 390mm (22 1⁄2 by 15 1⁄4 inches). Tall
folio; [8], 38 pp. With an added color lithographed title,
letter-press title, dedication leaf with the arms of the Duke of
Devonshire printed in gold, engraved full-page map, and 12 very fine
colored lithographed plates with views of the interior of Guiana, many
with images of Guiana’s tribes. Original publisher’s full dark green
cloth, title gilt stamped within an ornamental frame on front cover.
Two of the twelve plates do not have their corresponding tissue guard.
Neatly rebacked in dark green cloth, so similar to the original that
you need to look closely to see it. The first view a bit rubbed at the
outer edge. A few of the views with light marginal foxing.

Schomburgk (1804–1865) was a German-born explorer for Great Britain
known for his geographical and botanical studies in South America and
the West Indies. As a young man, he started his career in the United
States where he eventually became a partner in a tobacco processor in
Virginia. After the factory burned down, he moved to the Virgin Isles,
where he was entrusted by the Royal Geographical Society (London) to
conduct an expedition exploring Guiana. This mission occurred
1835–1839 with such great success that he was awarded the Royal
Geographical Society Gold Medal for his scientific work. Schomburgk
suggested a border between Venezuela and Guiana and surveyed a
division, later named the Schomburgk line. The British government used
his explorations as arguments in the boundary dispute with Brazil.
Schomburgk based his recommendations to Britain on his encounters with
the Brazilian enslavement of Guiana’s tribes.

Unique Proof Copy

A very beautiful and expensive production (4 guineas for a colored
copy in 1841), sold by subscription. This copy very likely unique (and
certainly no other copy like it on the market nor in known auction
records). The title is printed with “PROOF COPY” at the top left,
presumably produced to check the plates and binding, and thus was not
published with the leaf of subscribers found in the copies delivered
to actual subscribers of the plates. Additionally, this copy in
original full cloth is a variant. The book was generally sold in
completely different boards: either lithographed or in morocco over
marbled boards. The lovely large colored plates include: a map of
Guiana, the giant Victoria Regia water lily, the Comuti or Taquiare
Rock, River Essequibo, Ataraipu or the Devil’s Rock, Pirara and Lake
Amucu, etcetera. Borba de Moraes pg. 242 states “This album is quite
rare.”

$6,950

(trade discount allowed).

Thank you kindly, - Mark
___
mark funke, bookseller ABAA & ILAB
+1 206-632-1535
www.funkebooks.com
twitter.com/funkebooks
instagram.com/funkebooks