THE ANDES AND THE AMAZON

OR ACROSS THE CONTINENT OF SOUTH AMERICA 

New York, Harper & Brothers, 1870

356 pp, one page missing before title, illus, engraved plates, steel-engraved portrait of Colonel Staunton with the tissue guard, index. 

Original cloth, gilt title lettering on spine and front cover, spine ends rough, one half not bound.

Lower original front cover worn with spotting, fair condition, minor foxing on few leaves but a clean copy, no map.Tight bound pages.

The book is dedicated to Charles Darwin. They were good friends.

Please also see pictures for condition.

The journey across much of South America was mainly scientific (part of the Smithsonian expedition of 1867), studying the natural history, geography, geology and local society. 

There is some detail on the botany of the region, including the coca plant (cocaine), ('Thirty million pounds are annually consumed in South America. It is not, however, an opiate, but a powerful stimulant. 

With it, the Indian will perform heavy labor, travelling days without fatigue or food.

The expedition started at Quayaquil, to Quito, over the Eastern and Western Cordilleras, through the forest on foot to Napo, down the Rio Napo by canoe to Pebas on the Maranon and by steamer to Para. 

A wonderful rare copy by this author to Darwin  of the exploration geology geography environment and South America.