Notes of a Botanist on the Amazon & Andes, Being Records of Travel on the Amazon and Its Tributaries, the Trombetas, Rio Negro, Uaupés, Casiquiari, Pacimoni, Huallaga, and Pastasa; as also to the Cataracts of the Orinoco, along the Eastern Side of the Andes of Peru and Ecuador, and the Shores of the Pacific, During the years 1849-1864 by Richard Spruce. Edited and Condensed.

WALLACE, Alfred Russel (ed.).

Published by London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1908

About this Item

First edition, publisher's presentation copy for review, with its blind stamp on the title pages and printed review notice loosely inserted. Spruce was sent to South America in 1849 by his wealthy botanical patrons, remaining there for 14 years. In late 1849, he travelled up the Amazon to Santarém, where he met Wallace, who was seeking evidence for his theories of evolution. On his travels, Spruce identified many new species of plant, including 200 species of fungi and a number of plants with medicinal properties, including the datura and coca plants. In 1852, he interrupted his travels to assist Wallace, who had been struck down by malaria, and oversee his safe passage down the river. After his friend's death in 1893, Wallace edited his botanical papers, and this work "reflects [Spruce's] gift for analysis, description, and narrative, along with his dry humour" (ODNB). Howgego II S41; Wallace Online S731.1-2. 2 vols, octavo. Tissue-guarded photogravure portrait frontispiece in vol. I, 7 maps (4 folding), illustrations, diagrams, and tables in text; vols each with 2 pp. publisher's advertisements at rear. Original green cloth, spines lettered in gilt, top edges gilt. Old green notation on rear pastedown of vol. I. A little rubbing and marking to cloth, spine lightly sunned: a very good set indeed.

Seller Inventory # 190081

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Notes of a Botanist on the Amazon & Andes, Being Records of Travel on the Amazon and Its Tributaries, the Trombetas, Rio Negro, Uaupés, Casiquiari, Pacimoni, Huallaga, and Pastasa; as also to the Cataracts of the Orinoco, along the Eastern Side of the Andes of Peru and Ecuador, and the Shores of the Pacific, During the years 1849-1864 by Richard Spruce. Edited and Condensed.
• Publisher: London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1908
• Edition: 1st Edition