De Bry, Theodor, Johann Theodor, and Johann Israel

[Small Voyages]. Frankfurt, 1601, part 3 (only, of 12/13), Latin text, folio (306 x 195mm.)

Together 10 volumes, numerous engraved titles, maps, plates and illustrations, green morocco gilt by Pratt, gilt edges, [Church 177, 179, 181, 183, 154, 186, 189, 162, 166-168, 209], some faults and repairs (a few maps neatly backed, 2 supplied in facsimile; a few leaves supplied from other copies; occasional slight surface wear or cropping; some repairs and restoration - see footnote), spines slightly faded

John Jay Paul, engraved book label (each with date, 1913 or 1914)

the overall condition of this lot is as described in the catalogue description; see internet for more detailed condition reports on each volume
"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 good collection of uniformly bound illustrated accounts of voyages by or about Hariot, Le Moyne, Stadius, Benzoni, Schmidel, Drake, Cavendish, Raleigh, Acosta, Linschoten and Houtman.

Copies of De Bry are often found in poor condition but this collection has been expertly restored. Each volume has a short manuscript note tipped in detailing the main restoration work to have taken place and/or issue points (one on Henry Stevens, Son & Stiles, booksellers, headed notepaper, dated 1919). A full description of each volume (including faults) is available from the Book Department or online at www.sothebys.com. However due to the complexities of collation and the made-up nature of this (and many other) copies, the lot is sold not subject to return.

A full description of the lot is as follows:

Great, or American, Voyages

PART I, [HARIOT’S VIRGINIA], GERMAN TEXT, SECOND EDITION [Church 177]Wunderbarliche doch Warhafftige Erklärung…, engraved title, folding map backed on linen, 27 illustrations (11 full-page, 16 half-page), with an additional leaf F2 inserted (the illustration on the original page which is also present here in fact bears the illustration of plate no. 6), Frankfurt, Mattheus Becker, 1600

PART II, [LE MOYNE’S FLORIDA], GERMAN TEXT, FIRST EDITION [Church 179]
Der ander Theyl…, 2 engraved titles, both slightly cropped at foot, folding map with slight loss, backed on linen, 43 half-page illustrations, one printed upside down and one with surface wear, both with an additional copy of the illustration tipped in, some tears repaired (G3 with restoration from another copy; H1 short tear; I2 long tear), Frankfurt, Johann Feyerabend, 1591

PART III, [STADIUS’S BRAZIL], GERMAN TEXT, FIRST EDITION [Church 181]
Dritte Buch Americanae…, 2 engraved titles, folding map backed on linen, 2 full-page plates (coats of arms with Virtues; Adam and Eve) and 36 half-page illustrations, that at p. 195 with additional (different) illustration tipped in, minor repair to margin of p.15 and 19, 4 leaves supplied from another copy (of the second edition), Frankfurt, Theodor de Bry, 1593

PART IV, [BENZONI’S HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD], GERMAN TEXT, FRIST EDITION [Church 183]
Das vierdte Buch…, 2 engraved titles, folding map backed on linen, one full-page plate (coats of arms with Virtues), 26 half-page illustrations, those at second E1 and E4 with additional (different) illustration tipped in, a few short tears repaired, last gathering (F) slightly shorter, slightly soiled towards end, [Frankfurt, Johann Feyerabend, 1594]

another copy of
PART IV, [BEZONI’S HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD], LATIN TEXT, FIRST EDITION, SECOND ISSUE [Church 154]
Americae pars quarta, 2 engraved titles, folding map backed on linen, plate of coats of arms with Virtues, 24 half-page illustrations with arabic numbers, Frankfurt, Johann Feyerabend, 1594

PART V, [BEZONI’S HISTORY CONTINUED], GERMAN TEXT, FIRST EDITION [Church 186]
Americae. Das fünftte Buch…, 2 engraved titles, folding map backed on linen, 23 half-page illustrations (including portrait of Columbus), [Frankfurt, 1595]

PART VI, [BENZONI’S HISTORY CONCLUDED], GERMAN TEXT, SECOND EDITION [Church 189]
Das sechste Theil Americae…, engraved title, folding map backed on linen, double-page plate of Cusco, 29 half-page illustrations (including one of arms), Oppenheim, Hieronymo Gallern, 1619

PART VII, [SCHMIDEL’S BRAZIL AND PARAGUAY], LATIN TEXT, SECOND EDITION [Church 162]
Americae pars VII…, engraved title, 4 large illustrations in text, [Frankfurt], 1625

bound with:
PART VIII, [VOYAGES OF DRAKE, CAVENDISH AND RALEIGH], LATIN TEXT, SECOND EDITION, SECOND ISSUE [Church 167]
Americae pars VIII…, engraved map on title, 22 half-page illustrations (none at pp.57-58 or 142 – see next entry), folding map supplied in facsimile, Frankfurt, Erasmus Kempffer, 1625

bound with another copy of:
PART VIII, [VOYAGES OF DRAKE, CAVENDISH AND RALEIGH], LATIN TEXT, SECOND EDITION FIRST ISSUE [Church 166]
Americae pars VIII…, engraved map on title, 24 half-page and one full-page illustration (with those at pp.57-58 and 142), folding map supplied in facsimile, Frankfurt, Erasmus, Kempffer, 1625

PART IX, [ACOSTA’S HISTORY OF THE NEW WORLD AND OTHERS], LATIN TEXT, FIRST EDITION [Church 168]
Americae nona & postrema pars…, 5 parts in one volume, part I engraved title (restored at inner margin) and coat of arms; part II (‘Relatio historica’) engraved vignette on title, map (considerably smaller than other leaves): part III (‘Idaea vera’) 25 engraved half-page illustrations, 10 with an additional alternative illustration tipped in: part IV (‘Additamentum’) engraved vignette on title: part V (‘Vera et genvina’) 14 engraved half-page illustrations, 12 with an additional alternative illustration tipped in, Frankfurt, Mattheus Becker, 1602

Small Voyages

PART III, [LINSCHOTEN’S AND HOUTMAN’S VOYAGES AND ATTEMPTS TO REACH THE EAST INDIES BY WAY OF A NORTHERN ROUTE], LATIN TEXT, FIRST EDITION, SECOND ISSUE [Church 209]
Tertia pars indiae orientalis…, engraved title, 3 folding maps or plans backed on linen (Angra; Africa and Asia with Brazil at extremity; Arctic regions, with very slight loss at edge), one double-page plate, one single-page plate, 56 half-page illustrations, one full-page illustration and one double-page illustration (sig. i1-2), d3 restored or extended at foot, i2 with loss restored, corner of k1 repaired, Frankfurt, Mattheus Becker, 1601