The Spanish Conquest in America, and its Relation to the History of Slavery and to the Government of the Colonies. [Four Volumes]

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1868. First American edition. Cloth. Overall a very good set: two volumes with chips at spine ends, soiling on endpapers, one free front endpaper and first blank torn part way at hinge, owner's bookplate on front pastedowns; text and maps clean, bindings tight.. 490 pp.; 470 pp.; 532 pp.; 456 pp. Illus. with b/w maps including 1 folding. Sm. 8vo. Based upon the author's "The conquerors of the new world and their bonds men," London, 1848-52. "The whole of this noble work is devoted to a history of the relations of the Indians of America to its Spanish invaders; and the effect of their occupation, and conquest upon the population, religion, and manners of the aborigines. The various narratives and histories, which describe the awful destruction of many Indian nations by the Spaniards, are criticized with true philosophical acumen, and the veracity and capability of their authors fairly examined. It treats the whole story of the Indians and their conquerors, during the sixty years which immediately succeeded the discovery, in that continuous narrative style, by which our curiosity is aroused, and our interest perpetuated, without losing the dignity of veracious history," Field, Indian Bibliography. Provenance: Library of James Torr Harmer, with his bookplate. Sabin 31280n. Palau 112888 (Eng. ed.). Field 682 (Eng. ed.). Spain & Spanish America I, 323. Larned 3915.