Notable for containing the earliest view of Sao Paolo. John Mawe (1764 or 1766-1829), British mineralogist and gem merchant, visited Brazil through 1809 and 1810. The present work is much valued by historians and geographers as one of the earliest reliable accounts of Brazil under Portuguese colonisation, and the first on the diamond and gold washings and the manner in which they were conducted: i.e. the use of slaves. The account is replete with details on the geography, the people and their customs, habitations, plants and animals, trade, and many others made by a shrewd and intelligent observer.

First edition; 4to (27.5 x 22 cm); 9 engraved plates including frontispiece, 1 of which hand-coloured, armorial bookplate to pastedown, touch of offsetting from plates otherwise fine internally; contemporary full straight grained calf, gilt and blind borders to boards, gilt spine in six compartments with gilt morocco lettering piece, all edges and endpapers marbled, a little rubbing to extremities, upper joint repaired, a very good copy; vii, [1], 366, [2]pp.

cf. Abbey (Travel), 709; BdM II, 40; Sabin, 46991; Sinkankas 4270.