Lot 1356
  • 1356

Willes, Richard (editor), and others

Estimate
30,000 - 40,000 GBP
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Description

  • The History of Travayle in the West and East Indies, and other countreys lying eyther way, towards the fruitfull and ryche Moluccaes. As Moscovia, Persia, Arabia, Syria, Aegypte, Ethiopia, Guinea, China in Cathayo, and Giapan: with a discourse of the Northwest passage. London: Richard Jugge, 1577
  • paper
8vo (190 x 122mm.), [20], 467, [12]pp., Black Letter, woodcut illustration of the stars at the South Pole ('Pole Antartike') on fol.436v, woodcut historiated initials, early manuscript marginalia on fol.307v, contemporary dark calf, gilt spine, red label, blindstamped centerpiece arabesques on covers, remains of four ties, morocco-backed slipcase, a few printed side notes shaved by the binder, some spotting and waterstains, some small wear and repairs

Literature

Alden (European Americana) 577/2; Church 119; Cordier, Japonica 71; JCB, I, p.266; Löwendahl 12; Sabin 1562; STC 649; Wilson p.65

Condition

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."

Catalogue Note

AN IMPORTANT AND RARE ENGLISH EDITION OF EARLY VOYAGES TO THE AMERICAS, ASIA, AND THE MIDDLE EAST, AND WITH AN EARLY ACCOUNT OF THE NORTH WEST PASSAGE. RARE IN A CONTEMPORARY BINDING.

This is the second edition in English of Richard Eden's (d.1576) work of 1555, which was the first collection of voyages in English. The core of this revised edition was still the translation of Peter Martyr's De orbe novo and Oviedo's History of the West Indies, however Willes added, for the first time in English, Martyr's fourth Decade which covers the voyages of Hernandez de Cordoba, Grijalva, and Cortes. This edition also includes Maffei's account of Japan and the first account in English of Pereira's description of China. The work also includes Eden's translation of Lodovico di Varthema's travels in 1503 to Arabia, including Mecca, and Medina (where Varthema became the first European to enter the city), Egypt, Persia, Syria, Ethiopia and East India.

Peter Martyr (1457-1526) was a contemporary and associate of Columbus, Vasco de Gama, Amerigo Vespucci and Ferdinand Magellan. This, and his privileged position within the Spanish Council for the Indies, placed Martyr in a position of unrivalled authority to construct an account of these explorers' discoveries.