Fine Books & Manuscripts

HAKLUYT, Richard (ca. 1552–1616). The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation, made by Sea or over-land, to the remote and farthest distant quarters of the Earth, at any time within the compasse of these 1500 yeeres. London: George Bishop, Ralph Newberie and Robert Barker, 1599–1600. 3 volumes in 2, folio (287 x 180 mm). Ornamental woodcut capitals, head– and tail–pieces. (Lacking the map, as often, Vol. I pp.607–619 supplied, p.607 soiled, a few tiny rust–holes affecting a few letters, some minor dampstaining or soiling.) Contemporary calf, 7 compartments with 6 raised bands, gilt–numbered in one, orange morocco lettering–piece gilt (some partial separation along joints, overall minor wear); quarter morocco folding case. Provenance: Charles Maynard, 1st Viscount Maynard (engraved armorial bookplate to title verso); Stewart Kidd (bookseller's label); Bayard Livingston Kilgour, Jr. (1904–1984), American book collector (bookplate). SECOND (FIRST ENLARGED) EDITION. Title–page in volume one in the second state, dated 1599 and not including the reference to “the famous victorie atchieved at the citie of Cadiz, 1596,” with misspelled “Hackluyt” on vol. II title-page, and with “yeeres” on vol. III title-page. WITH THE VOYAGE TO CADIZ (vol. I, pp.607-619, ESTC state 1a). The section was suppressed by Elizabeth I after the disgrace of the Earl of Essex in 1599. In some copies sold after Elizabeth's death, these sheets were reinserted. As for the presence of the map, Pforzheimer notes: “It is generally allowed that the map which belongs in that third volume, though only occasionally found, was not issued with all copies.” Church located only thirteen copies of the map. There are apparently two variants of the printer's ornaments on the title-page in volume one. This copy has a border of fruit and flowers surrounding the opening word “The” and the ornamental device above the imprint is composed of a center medallion flanked by cornucopia. No priority has been established between this state and the variant with a typographical border around “The” and a device using three birds above the imprint. The present edition greatly enlarges the first edition of 1589, with the entire third volume devoted to America. “Hakluyt's Principall Navigations was the fruit of a life devoted to promoting the cause of English colonization and commerce by disseminating knowledge about, and stimulating interest in, all the less known or recently discovered parts of the world. This great repository of explorations, travels, and adventures 'within the compasse of these 1500 years' was aptly styled by Mr. Froude 'the prose epic of the modern English nation'” (Church). The Supplement “contains fourteen rare works not easily accessible in any other form, and is quite as important as either of the volumes published in [Hakluyt's] time” (Sabin 29600). “In a word, many of such useful tracts of sea adventures, which before were scattered as several ships, Mr. Hakluyt hath embodied into a fleet, divided into three squadrons so many several volumes; a work of great honour to England” (Thomas Fuller, The History of the Worthies of England). Alden & Landis 598/42; Borba de Moraes I:328; Church 322 (second issue); ESTC S106744; Grolier English 14; Hill 744 (second issue of the title); Palau 112038, 112039; Pforzheimer 443 (1st and 2nd volumes); PMM 105; Sabin 29595.