[Memorial 11].

£125,000 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books

11th presentation memorial A great rarity: an original quiros presentation memorial. 'The discovery of the Southern Continent, whenever, and by whomsoever it may be completely effected, is in justice due to this immortal name' (Alexander Dalrymple). Between 1607 and 1614 Quiros wrote a series of petitions (or memorials) addressed to the King of Spain requesting that he be given command of another voyage to find the great hidden continent: Terra Australis Incognita. The majority of these memorials, over 50 in number, were presented in manuscript form, however fourteen were printed at Quiros's own expense in limited numbers for presentation to the King and his Councils alone. These presentation memorials represent the earliest printed record of discovery and plans for colonisation of Terra Australis, the Australian continent. Pedro Fernandes de Queiros (1563[5?]-1614) was born in Portugal, becoming a Spanish subject when the two countries were temporarily united following the Portuguese succession crisis of 1580. More well-known by the Spanish form of his name, Quiros spent several years sailing the Pacific coasts of the Americas, distinguishing himself during the expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña which set out from Peru in 1595 to colonise the Solomon Islands. Despite the immense hardships of the Mendaña expedition it gave Quiros the inspiration that would drive him for the rest of his life: he would discover the great southern continent (Terra Australis) for Spain and the Churc

• Binding: Hardcover

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