Franck, Sebastian, Ulrich Schmidel and Hans von Staden.

2 volumes bound in one (comprising 3 separately paginated parts), folio (302 x 192mm.), first title printed in red and black, composite woodcuts on titles, initials and ornaments in text, large printer's device at end, contemporary limp vellum, arms of anton fugger stamped on upper cover (see provenance), remains of ties, lightly browned, small repair on spine

1. Anton Fugger von Norndorff (1563-1616), arms on upper cover dated 1586. Anton Fugger was the second son of Marcus Fugger (1529-1597), Augsburg banker, scholar and bibliophile, and grandson of Anton Fugger (1493-1560), financier to Emperor Charles V. The Fuggers' commercial empire included vast properties in America: they traded with Peru and Chile, and from 1536 onward took part in the African slave trade with the Americas. Anton Fugger von Norndorff sqaundered his great fortune on extravagant living and spent some time in a debtor's prison.
2. Krähenbühl of Berne, Switzerland, near contemporary ecclesiastical arms of a member of this family, stamped on lower cover

Alden & Landis 567/16; Borba da Moraes p.317; JCB I, 234/5; Palau 304834; Sabin 25471, 77677

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

a fine copy of a rare work, from the library of anton fugger, with the first appearance in print of schmidel's voyage to brazil and argentina. one of the rarest early german collections of voyages.

The first part comprises the Weltbuch by Sebastian Franck, including a 54 page description of America, which had appeared earlier. The second part ("Ander theil"), contains the accounts of several Portuguese voyages to the East Indies, the voyages of Ulrich Schmidel to Brazil and Argentina and that of Hans von Staden to Brazil; those of the latter two, both of whom were German mercenary soldiers, are amongst the earliest accounts of south american travels and discovery.

Schimdel's account is the first printing of the earliest account of colonisation of the River Plate and of the founding of Buenos Aires. It is a vivid narrative of a soldier who fought the native Indian tribes for over 18 years, having joined Pedro de Mendoza's New World expedition to the River Plate, which consisted of 14 ships carrying mostly civilians intending to settle in the region. Schmidel describes the voyage to and from South America, the first founding of Buenos Aires in 1537, the terrible sufferings of the settlers and the final abandonment of the fort to the native Indians. He also gives a detailed description of the rebellion against the newly appointed governor of the region, Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca at Asunción in 1549.

Staden made two voyages to Brazil in 1547-1555; he was taken prisoner by the Tupi Indians and spent nine months among the natives of the Sáo Paulo region. His description provides a graphic account of the cannibalism and barbarous customs of the aborigines and is still considered to be an important source of information on the ethnography of the southern Tupinamba. All early editions are rare.