Beschreibung:

Libro primo de la conquista del Peru & provincia del Cuzco de le Indie occidentali
Venice: Stephano da Sabbio, 1535. 8vo (184 x 130mm.) 62 pp. Translated by Domenico de Gaztelu. Large woodcut of the arms of Charles V on title, woodcut arms of de Gaztelu at head of dedication and on verso of second leaf, woodcut initials, some with historiation. 19th-century pigskin, glossy marbled endpapers. Condition : short tear to fore-margin of title and tear to gutter *2 neatly repaired affecting two letters, 3 leaves browned, occasional light marginal staining, margins shaved; extremities rubbed. Acquisition : Sotheby's London, 14 December 2000, lot 220, $9,700. first edition in italian. Translated from the second issue of the 1534 edition, published the previous year at Seville. "Xeres, the secretary of Pizarro, left Spain with him in January, 1530. This narrative was written by order of his master, while he was in America and was printed directly after his return to Seville, which he reached with the first installment of gold in July 1534. As is natural, with one who knew personally the actors in that drama and witnessed its sanguinary events, Xeres endeavours to extenuate their deeds of rapine, destruction and massacre. The narrative is interspersed with many anecdotes and personal reminiscences" (Church, pp.161-163). European Americana 535/21; BM STC Italian, p. 738; Church 73; Harisse 200; JCB I, p. 119; Medina BHA 95 (note); Sabin 105721.