M. de Pradt

L'Europe et l'Amerique en 1822 et 1823 [Two Volume Set]

Paris: Chez Bechet, 1824. Good. Item #47361

Paris: Chez Bechet, 1824. First Edition. Two volumes; octavos (21.5cm); contemporary French wallpaper wrappers of teal glazed paper with a blue-black floral design (wastepaper from a copy of Le Cid used on front pastedown of Vol. I); [6],xxiii,[1],279,[1]; [6],318,[2]pp. Wrappers quite chipped and worn, both upper wrappers separated but present, as are three preliminary leaves of Vol. II, scattered foxing throughout text; a Good example in the original binding with deckled edges, the latter half of Vol. I uncut.

Broad study of the social and economic scene in both Europe and the Americas during a two-year period by the prolific clergyman and diplomat Dominique Georges Frédéric de Pradt (1759-1837). Pradt began his early career as a clergyman in pre-Revolutionary France before serving as ambassador to the Vatican, Spain, and Warsaw under Napoleon I. Later in his career he became involved with the movement for Latin American independence, and he was awarded citizenship to both Mexico and Colombia (Bolivar compared him to the sun and moon). The 20th century academic Laura Bornholdt described him as the Walter Lippmann of his age.

The first volume of this study provides a general overview of the socioeconomic and international relations of Europe and the Americas for the two years in question, while the second volume is separated into short chapters describing each country or city in question. These include North America and the United States as well as Mexico, Guatemala, Havana, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Buenos Aires, and Brazil.

References:

Laura Bornholdt, "The Abbe de Pradt and the Monroe Doctrine," in The Hispanic American Historical Review, Vol. 24, no. 2, May, 1944.

Sabin 64895.

Price: $650.00