THE FIRST VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD, BY MAGELLAN; TRANSLATED FROM THE ACCOUNTS OF PIGAFETTA AND OTHER CONTEMPORARY WRITERS

tastefully ex libris (gilt library logo and number to front board and spine only)lx 258pp xx, argent chromolitho armorial plate, 2 maps (part coloured, one folding) full contemporary calf, spine gilt with red title labels, marbled edges and endpapers VG- front board completely detatched but present, illus sl foxed, some rubbing/shelfware-particularly to spine, bookplate on fep, light foxing to prelims). Photos available on request generally a nice bright tight copy let down by that damn front hinge: the details of Magellan's circumnavigation (1517-22) are somewhat less well-known than those of later voyagers. Successfully negotiating a route to the East Indies by sailing west, the lame navigator was killed in the Philippines (the 'first circumnavigator' failed to complete the compass!) after losing four of his five ships and most of his crew. Only 20 men returned of the 270 who had embarked. The discovery of his eponymous straits was instrumental to subsequent discovery in the Pacific. (B Brewster). …