The American Traveller; being a New Historical Collection Carefully Compiled from Original Memoirs in Several Languages and the Most Authentick Voyages & Travels

£1,500 · Offered by Maggs Bros Ltd

This was the first volume of an intended multi-volume work which was never completed beyond this first volume. The editor promises a digest of the important voyages of discovery updated with later information where appropriate. The main body of the text concerns the discoveries of Columbus and Cortez. This section is prefaced by a lengthy discourse (pp.13-95) on the development of the compass and a short digest on the customs laws then pertaining throughout the British dominion. The title promises “Heads of the most eminent Admirals … neatly engraved.” Only two such were included. This is the third appearance of the text, ealier versions with the same pagination came out in 1741 and 1743. All are extremely uncommon. Sabin, 1250.

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