Andrew Kippis, 1795

KIPPIS, Andrew (1725-1795). Historia de la Vida y Viages del Capitan Jaime Cook. Transated by Cesáreo de Nava Palacio. Madrid: Royal Press, 1795.

The first Spanish edition of Captain Cook's Voyages, with contemporary marginalia from a young Spanish soldier. The present copy includes a manuscript inscription lamenting a young soldier’s “disgraced” situation, in which he hopes “to be found innocent” in order to return to our “former happiness.” The inscription is dated Almeria, 8 February 1835; other inscriptions in the same hand are dated to Granada, January 1835. The annotator may have served in the Southern theatres of the Carlist war. Only days before, a decisive battle won at Arquijas by Carlists in the Liberal stronghold of Andalusia shook public confidence in the Liberal army. Forbes 190; Mitchell Library 15.

Two volumes, quarto (204 x 127mm). (Some browning and light foxing, occasional stains affecting the text, mostly in the second half of the first volume; a few closed tears not affecting text). Contemporary calf, edges red (extremities lightly rubbed, some worming to spine). Provenance: Francisco de Paula Lopez (inscribed in manuscript, “Soy de Franco de Paula Lopez del Rincon, Nacional Voluntario de Almeria y agregrado al batallón de Granada, enero 1835” [I belong to Francisco de Paula, National Volunteer of Almeria attached to the Granada Batallion, January 1835]).