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[8],207 leaves. Small quarto. 18th-century calf, gilt, inner dentelles, rebacked to style, spine gilt, leather label. Bookplates on front pastedown. Some minor soiling. Scattered notations in Spanish in an early hand. Very good. In a cloth clamshell case, leather label. First French edition, and the first collection of voyages printed in the French language, collected by Peter Martyr, the first historian of the Americas. "Peter Martyr (1457-1526) was born near Lake Maggiore. He was a contemporary and friend of Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Hernan Cortes, Ferdinand Magellan, Sebastian Cabot, and Amerigo Vespucci. Through his friendship with these explorers, as well as from his official position as a member of the Council for the Indies in Spain, he was able to obtain authentic original documents and much valuable information about the discoveries made by the early navigators. His works were held in the highest esteem by his contemporaries and are indispensable as a primary source for the history of the Americas" - Hill. This edition consists of a slightly abridged translation of Peter Martyr's first three Decades (from DE ORBE NOVO, first published in 1516 in Alcala de Henares) and three "narrations," the first being a translation of the first edition (Basel 1521) of Martyr's fourth Decade; the second and third are abridged translations of the Second and Third Letters of Cortés, first published in 1524 at Nuremberg. Cortés' famed Second Letter, dated Oct. 30, 1520, provides a vivid account of the conquest of Mexico, describing the people he encountered and fought en route to the Aztec capital. He relates his conflict with his rival, Velazquez, and gives a wonderful description of the buildings, institutions, and court at Tenochtitlan. It is here that Cortés provides a definitive name for the country, calling it "New Spain of the Ocean Sea." This letter is also important for making reference to Cortés' "lost" first letter, supposedly composed at Vera Cruz on July 10, 1520. Whether that letter was actually lost or suppressed by the Council of the Indies is unknown, but there is little doubt it once existed. The text is the first major announcement to the world of the discovery of major civilizations in the New World, and as such is a work of surpassing importance. The content also touches on Cuba and the West Indies. In addition to numerous Spanish notations in an early hand, this copy bears the bookplates of Theodore Bauffremont-Courtenay, Prince Duke of Bauffremont (1793-1852), cavalry colonel, supporter of the Duchesse de Barry and aide to the Duke de Bordeaux; and Prince Constantin Radziwill (1850-1920), founder of Monte Carlo and father of Leon Radziwill, Proust's friend and model for the character, Robert de Saint-Loup. A rare work, seldom met with in commerce. Only two copies have appeared at auction in the last sixty years. The DuPont copy realized $48,400 in 1991. EUROPEAN AMERICANA 532/1. CHURCH 64. HARRISSE 167. BRUNET I:293. HILL 533 (ref). Seller Inventory # WRCAM51629
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