Views of America · 19th century
€ 440
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Condition report: Very good condition with wide margins. A few scattered foxing spots in the margins, image clean and well-inked. Plate mark clearly visible. Blank verso.
Antique lithograph view of Iquique, Peru (now Chile) – 1865
This lithograph, titled Vista de Iquique, presents a rare mid-19th century view of the coastal city of Iquique, at the time part of Peru. It was published in Paris in 1865 as part of Mariano Felipe Paz Soldán’s monumental Atlas Geográfico de la República del Perú, the first comprehensive national atlas of the country. The plate was drawn by F. Delamare and lithographed by H. Jacomme.
The scene captures the city from a vantage point along the shore, with the urban settlement stretching across the horizon. In the foreground, groups of figures stand and converse near the rocky beach, while seabirds—pelicans among them—gather by the water, emphasizing the maritime environment. The bay is shown calm, with boats scattered across the harbor. A flock of birds fills the sky, creating a sense of movement and vitality.
In the mid-19th century, Iquique was an important Peruvian port and commercial hub, particularly noted for its guano trade and later its nitrate industry, which would become the basis of regional wealth. The inclusion of Iquique in Paz Soldán’s atlas highlighted the city’s economic importance within the Peruvian Republic before its later annexation by Chile. This lithograph therefore carries both documentary and historical value, representing the city as it appeared under Peruvian sovereignty.
Mariano Felipe Paz Soldán’s Atlas Geográfico contained 29 views and 49 maps, offering an unprecedented visual and geographic portrait of Peru. The Vista de Iquique is among the most evocative of the coastal views, combining urban detail with natural surroundings. For collectors of Latin American history, naval heritage, and the Pacific littoral, this print is a remarkable record of a city that would later stand at the center of geopolitical change.
Condition report: Very good condition with wide margins. A few scattered foxing spots in the margins, image clean and well-inked. Plate mark clearly visible. Blank verso.
Framing tips: A neutral-toned mount with a thin inner line of blue or grey will complement the maritime subject. A dark wood or ebonized frame will add depth and contrast, drawing the viewer into the coastal vista.
Technique: Lithograph
Maker: F. Delamare (artist), printed by H. Jacomme, Paris, 1863, for Mariano Felipe Paz Soldán’s Atlas Geográfico de la República del Perú (Paris, 1865)
