Perhaps the most significant of voyages to South America had nothing to do with conquest or colonies. It was the voyage of the Beagle. The Beagle was engaged in scientific exploration. One of those scientists was Charles Darwin, and it was the observations he made on this trip which would lead to the development of his theory of evolution. Item 56 is the complete three-volume set plus the appendix of the Narrative of the Surveying Voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle, Between the Years 1826 and 1836...edited by Robert Fitzroy (the commander). The third volume presented Darwin's findings, and was so in demand it was soon independently reprinted. $25,000.

Item 107 is an amazing collection of early Mexican treaties. It is a sammelband of 30 treaties between 1825 and 1856. It starts with a treaty with Colombia, itself a new republic, in 1825. It was Mexico's first treaty with a foreign nation. It is followed with an 1827 treaty with Great Britain, Mexico's first with a European power. Other treaties include an 1838 treaty with Spain, which finally officially recognized the former colony's independence, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which ended the Mexican-American War, and the rare Mexican printing of the Gadsden Purchase Treaty, whereby the United States obtained the southern parts of Arizona and New Mexico and set today's border between the two nations. $42,500.

Item 92 is a pamphlet from William Henry Harrison, recently dismissed ambassador to Colombia. Harrison had decided that Simon Bolivar was determined to make himself emperor, and had written him what was considered to be an insulting letter urging him to follow the principles of republican government. President Andrew Jackson had been forced to replace Harrison as ambassador. In response, Harrison wrote this piece, Remarks of General Harrison, Late Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Republic of Colombia, on Certain Charges made Against Him by that Government. This defense of his offensive conduct is inscribed by Harrison to North Carolina Congressman Jesse Speight. Ten years later, Harrison would more than rebound from this incident, being elected President of the United States in 1840. $6,500.

Item 32 is Voyage Autour du Monde...by Louis Bougainville, published in 1771. Bougainville was the first Frenchman to circumnavigate the world, but he's not that well remembered as Magellan beat him by a few centuries. However, he did start a colony on the Falkland Islands, and claimed them for France. Unfortunately, France, wanting to maintain peace with Spain, ceded the islands to the Spanish. Lest you think Bougainville is totally forgotten, a botanist on his supply ship named a plant he discovered in South America for his captain. That is the origin of the plant name "Bougainvillea." $7,500.

You may find the William Reese catalogue on their website, www.reeseco.com, or reach them by phone at 203-789-8081.