PURCHAS, Samuel (1575?–1626). Purchas his Pilgrimage. Or Relations of the World and the Religions Observed in All Ages and Places discovered, from the Creation unto this Present. In Foure Parts. London: William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, 1614.
Folio (282 x 188 mm). (18 leaves [pages 201-236] supplied form a slightly shorter copy; a few marginal paper flaws, that on leaf 2Q5 affecting printing slightly and with small hole on shoulder note; 3L3 with marginal paper flaw/tear crossing text and internal break crossing 2 lines of text; some occasional minor marginal dampstaining, some minor stains or spots; some pale dampstaining to Table at end). Woodcut initials, head– and tail– pieces. Contemporary English calf, covers with central gilt–stamped lozenge, spine compartments each with gilt devices, remnants of ties, 19th–century title ink–lettered on spine (minor wear to joints and extremities, spine with a few wormholes and with lower joint splitting slightly at foot, front hinge starting); quarter morocco folding case. Provenance: Some contemporary ink marginalia, underlinings in text, and notes on rear endleaves and pastedown; Pytt’s Book Room at Kyre (19th–century printed label on spine).
Second edition, “much enlarged with Additions through the whole Worke” by one of the best–known early travel writers. The first three parts relate to travels in Asia, Africa and the East Indies. The fourth, and most celebrated, includes accounts of New France, Virginia, Florida, explorations of Cabeca de Vaca, Columbus, Frobisher, Cartier, Hudson, Raleigh, Cortes, and others. In 1625, Purchas published Hakluytus Posthumus, or Purchas his Pilgrimes, which was a massive work that was a continuation of Richard Hakluyt’s Principal Navigations that was based on the manuscripts left by Hakluyt upon his death in 1616. European Americana 614/94; ESTC S111828; Sabin 66679; STC 20506.