ERCILLA, Alonso de (1533–1594). Primera y segunda parte de la Araucana. Madrid: Pierre Cosin, 1578.

Very rare edition of Ercilla’s masterpiece
* The first major work of Latin American literature, considering the "baptismal certificate" of Chilean identity
* "The best of all the epics written about the conquest of the New World by far" (Ruth Hill, UVA)
* This is the first edition to include the second part.
* The second part with contemporary manuscript corrections.
* From the collection of García Icazbalceta

The first part of Ercilla’s epic poem was printed in 1569, and the second part first appeared in 1578 in the present edition (the third and final part would not come to the press until 1589). One of the first European literary works devoted to events in the New World, La Araucana recounts Ercilla’s experiences of Spain’s colonial Arauco War in Chile. Ranked by Voltaire among the works of Virgil, Tasso and Camões, La Araucana is one of the greatest pieces of Spanish literature.

The second part contains a number of manuscript corrections which feature in later editions of the text. Some are printing errors, but in Canto 18, for example, the 36th verse has been edited from “que el aspero Peñon sera tomado” to “que el aspero Peñon sera expugnado” – changing taken to conquered. These are possibly Ercilla’s own corrections, or those of an early owner wanting to correct their copy.

Only two copies have appeared at auction in the past 40 years. This copy comes from the library of Mexican historian Joaquín García Icazbalceta. Sabin 22720.

Two volumes, small quarto (190 × 136mm). Woodcut device on title-pages, woodcut portraits of Ercilla, (both vols. lacking a2 imprimaturs, titles with a little marginal insect-wear, light foxing at ends, prelims loosening). 19th century quarter green morocco-grained sheep (rubbed, hinges cracked); grey cloth slipcases. Provenance: early manuscript notes – Joaquín García Icazbalceta, 1824-1894 (bookplates).