Proof Copy of an Important Color Plate Book

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.”

A unique opportunity to acquire a unique copy of an important color plate book.