[Soto, Hernando de (c. 1500-1542)]

Estimate

2,000 - 3,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

A Relation of the Invasion and Conquest of Florida by the Spaniards, under the command of Fernando de Soto. Written in Portuguese by a Gentleman of the town of Elvas. London: for John Lawrence, 1686

8vo (172 x 103mm.), [16], 272pp., binding: contemporary blind-ruled calf, small tears with loss (not affecting text), staining, binding worn, upper cover detached

Provenance

Petiver, signature on title-page, quite possibly the brilliant but shambolic botanist James Petiver (c. 1665-1718) whose Pterigraphia americana appeared in 1712.

Literature

Wing R840; Field 1274; Sabin 24865; Wagner, Spanish Southwest 58b

Catalogue Note

This is the second printed account of Florida. The first was Cabeca de Vaca's commentaries of 1555. The original Portuguese version of this work was published at Evora in 1557 and is perhaps the scarcest of all books on American history. It was first translated into English by Hakluyt in 1609. The present translator appears to be unaware of Hakluyt's publication and in addition this edition contains the first printing in English of Isidro de Atondo’s A New Descent of the Spanish On the Island of Califurnia [sic]. In the Year 1683 (pp. 259-272).