UNANUE, Don Joseph Hipôlito. Guia Política, Eclesiástica y Militar del Vireynato del Peru para el Año de 1797. By Don Joseph Hipôlito Unanue. [8], xii, [2], 259 (i.e. 275), [13] pp. Illustrated with a folding map and 5 folding tables. 12mo., 146 x 101 mm, bound in contemporary Peruvian mottled calf, intricate gilt-tooled spine. [Lima]: Imprenta Real de los Niños Huérfanos, [1797].

First Edition of the fifth and final locally-printed, eighteenth-century, guide to the country of Peru. The curious folding map depicts the coastline and partial interior. One wonders whether at this moment in time any non-Incan had penetrated deeper into the Andes mountains and Incan territories to chart and map containing more of the Altiplano. This guide offers exacting information on the numbers of people (divided into sub-categories i.e. clergy, Indios, Spanish, Mestizos, slaves, etc.), the existing buildings (types and uses- often with amount of rents paid), the names of public officials (administrators, clergy, etc.), then a list of the main staples produced by the town, village or region. The folding plans are financial, showing import and export values, the number and type of mines, their values, and the number of laborers at each. Very rare: only one copy listed in ABPC, sold in 1981. Four copies in OCLC: Wm Clements Library, Michigan, Boston Public, John Carter Brown and Wellcome Library, London. Minor rubbing to foot of spine, else a very fine copy.

Sabin 97718. Palau 344280 "Son Muy raras estas guias." Leclerc 1506. Medina III, 1855.