M. Campe - Découverte de l'Amérique - 1817

Fascinating 3-volume illustrated set, notably with 2 folded maps, of this vast historical and educational narrative devoted to one of the greatest transformations in world history: the revelation of the American continent to Europeans at the end of the 15th century -

Faithful to its pedagogical method, the author presents the events in a lively and accessible form while preserving a rich documentary depth -

The work opens with a description of the state of geographic knowledge in medieval Europe, beliefs about the shape of the world, the trade routes to the Orient, and the economic, religious, and scientific motivations that drive navigators to seek new maritime paths -

Campe then traces the youth, studies, and projects of Christopher Columbus, showing how he developed the conviction that it was possible to reach Asia by crossing the Atlantic Ocean to the west -

The author describes the many difficulties Columbus faced in obtaining support from the European sovereigns, the repeated refusals he encountered, and the decisive role played by the Spanish monarchs, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, who eventually agreed to fund his expedition -

M. Campe - Discovery of America - 1817 - Volumes I, II and III - In Paris -
308 + 292 + 256 pp

Condition: fair bindings, works in full brown morocco leather of the period, signs of wear, some minor defects on boards and spine (one spine missing, that of volume III), all caps missing, cracked joints, corners worn, marbled edges, smooth spine adorned, gilded titles and tomes on red and green morocco pieces, gilded borders framing the boards -

Good internal condition, some foxing and stains, some maps with tears and losses, parchment leaves, binders offset, nice vignette on the title page, works enriched with 2 geographic maps on folding plates and numerous black-and-white engravings out of text including a frontispiece, library stamp on the flyleaf, marbled endpapers in good condition, a pleasant set -

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