(London: Tinsley Bros., 1869).

VERY SCARCE FIRST EDITION. Isabel Burton, after 3 years in Brazil with her husband, was entrusted with the publication of the HIGHLANDS OF BRAZIL manuscript upon her return to Britain. Having endured much physical hardship, terrible disease, and ongoing difficulties restraining her husband s erratic and adventurous activities, she set to work publishing his manuscripts. She offered an unusual preface to the work by stating her strong moral objections to two of her husband s perspectives.  I point the finger of indignation particularly at what misrepresents our Holy Roman Catholic Church, and at what upholds that unnatural and repulsive law, Polygamy, which the Author is careful not to practice himself, but from a high moral pedestal he preaches to the ignorant as a means of population in young countries.
The volumes contain vivid descriptions of Burton s travels and observations throughout Brazil in diary form. Burton aimed for written sketches of his impressions rather than a polished work.  While sketching the HIGHLANDS OF BRAZIL as far as they were visited by me, my handiwork is totally deficient in the  beautification of which  serious travellers complain. It is mostly a succession of hard, dry photographs with rough lines and dark, raw colours, where there is not a sign of glazing. His travels covered roughly 2,000 miles, 1150 miles of which were traversed slowly by raft and were completed in five months in 1867. He spent a good deal of time researching the Gold Mines worked by English companies, and closed the second volume at the Great Rapids of Rio De Sao Francisco. Item #21905

2 volumes. First edition, first issue. Black and white frontispieces and vignette title-pages in each volume, folding map of Brazil. 8vo, very handsomely bound in full period dark blue-green calf, spines with raised bands, beautifully decorated gilt-tooled compartments, two compartments with dark maroon morocco lettering labels, gilt, covers of Volume 1 with gilt central armorial devices of royal origin, Volume II with devices removed and with period inserts, edges of the covers with double gilt fillet border lines surrounding blind rolled inner borders, marbled endleaves. xii, 443; viii, 478 pp.. A handsome set with some expected mellowing or aging to the bindings and initial leaves, typical use wear to the extremities, lower portion of the map lost (can be replaced with facsimile), tight and solid copies, withal a very good and pleasing copy of this rare book.