Manuscripts include travel accounts of Francis Magnin about social life and customs of Bolivia and Peru with many hand drawn, pen-and-ink sketches. Several quotes from famous literature are interspersed throughout. Handwritten title translates to “Peru, China and Japan: Intimate Memories.” However, there is no indication in these two volumes about visiting China or Japan. Most of the events in the first volume take place in Bolivia, and the second volume in Lima, Peru.

Bookseller’s description, pasted on the cover verso, reads as: “Intimate records of Peruvian life and society.Magnin de Collogny, F., souvenirs intimes. French manuscript. 2 vols. Of 150 and 117 written pages and 95 pen-and-ink drawings interspersed in the text. Small folio. 1863. Boards. RM

Contains an account of the author’s residence at Arica, Tacna, and Lima in the year 1863 with many particulars about these towns, their buildings (churches, theatres, bazars, gambling houses, alamedas, market places, inns) inhabitants, both Spanish and aborigines, festivities (fiesta de la independencia, Christmas, bull-fights, dances, cock-fights) and other population (Tapadas, arrieros, aguadores, priests, etc.) Prostitution, common houses, and the licentious life of private persons are extensively treaded, many chapters begin quite a chronique scandaleuse, interspersed with remarks and reflections by the author. Many persons of Peruvian society of that time are thus passed in review, though with names changed. Of great interest is also the ample description of an earthquake, of a visit to Chorrilos, a “Baden-Baden” 30 miles from Lima, an account of Chicha Islands, the author passed along on his voyage to Callao, and of a passage across the Cordilleras.

What gives manuscript an additional value are the 95 spirited pen-and-ink drawings made from nature, representing many portraits, though some of them certainly caricatured, types of population, street scenes, love adventures, etc.”