Don José Comas - El mundo pintoresco - 1870-1870

Travel Book (1868) - 'The Picturesque World: The Antilles' - Complete, Illustrated, and with ex-libris of J.E. Casariego
Brief Description
Magnificent monographic volume devoted to the Antilles and the Island of Cuba (1868), belonging to the famous work by José Comas. A 100% complete copy with plates and with an exceptional provenance: it includes the engraved ex-libris of the renowned Spanish historian and journalist Jesús Evaristo Casariego.
Lot Details (Technical Sheet)
• Author: José Comas
• Book Title: The Picturesque World: History and Description of the Antilles (Section: Spanish Colonies - Island of Cuba)
• Publisher: Juan Pons Editor (Barcelona)
• Year of edition: 1868 (First edition)
• Language: Spanish
• Binding: Vintage leather spine with gilt titles and ornate decorations. Cardboard covers with clean cuts. Marbleized endpapers (handmade paper).
• Number of pages: [Complete with the number of pages, e.g., 450 pp.]
• Dimensions: [Complete with measurements in cm, e.g., 28 x 20 cm]
• Condition: Good / Very good (Normal signs of use and age on covers; interior clean with slight temporal oxidation at the margins that does not affect the text or the engravings).
Detailed Description and Key Points
1. Content and Integrity
This standalone volume focuses monographically on the history, geography, climate, and customs of the Spanish Colonies in the Caribbean, with particular emphasis on the Island of Cuba.
The copy has been meticulously checked against its "Plate Template" and is fully verified with all its illustrations present. It includes magnificent off-text engravings by P. Planas, among which stand out:
• Monumental allegorical frontispiece (engraved plate dating from 1868).
• General view of Havana.
• Interior landscapes of the island of Cuba.
• Coastal views and colonial fortifications (Castillo del Morro).
• The famous engraving of the Bellamar Caves.
2. Prestigious Provenance (Ex-libris)
On the back of the cover remains intact the heraldic and engraved ex-libris of the Casariego Private Library (Jesús Evaristo Casariego, 1913-1990), illustrious historian of law, expert in maritime and military history, and director of the newspaper El Alcázar. The ex-libris features his distinctive inkwell, sword, scales, and the famous medieval motto of the Marquess of Santillana: "La pluma non embota el fierro de la lanza, nin face floja la espada en la mano del caballero".
Additionally, the first page of text bears a discreet period manuscript signature in ink, reinforcing its historical traceability.
An ideal piece for collectors of antique travel books, Cuban/colonial themes, or bibliophiles interested in libraries with intellectual provenance.