Ayres, Philip | First edition of a scarce work on English piracy

Ayres, Philip

The Voyages and Adventures of Capt. Barth, Sharp and others, in the South Sea: being a Journal of the same. Also Capt. Van Horn with His Bucaniers surprizing of la Vera Cruz. To which is added the true Relation of Sir Henry Morgan his Expedition against the Spaniards in the West-Indies, and his taking Panama. London: by B.W. for R.H. and S.T., 1684

8vo (178 x 110 mm). Contemporary ownership signature to title-page, else a lovely copy. Eighteenth-century gilt-ruled calf; joints and spine ends a little rubbed.

First edition of a scarce work on English piracy, sometimes attributed to a New Englander

"The major part of this book is the narrative of Captain [Bartholomew] Sharp. For two and one half years Sharp's party of French and English buccaneers ranged up and down the western coast of South America, sacking and burning towns, capturing ships, ransoming and killing [and generally making nuisances of themselves], often quarreling among themselves, and gradually dwindling in number until it was no longer possible to carry on against the Spanish forces. Eventually the crew disintegrated under pressure from the King's navy, and Captain Sharp was killed by the Spanish at Cape Corrientes in 1697. Among his companions were William Dampier, Lionel Wafer, William Funnel, and William Hacke" (Hill).

While Ayres the publisher is most often cited as the author, there is much to support that it was in fact the New Englander John Cox on the evidence of ships logs. 

Rare. The work has only appeared at auction a handful of times in the last thirty years.

REFERENCES:

Hill 11; Sabin 79781; Wing A 4315