About this Item
The second and best edition, following the first of 1726. Shelvocke was engaged in a privateering expedition against Spanish shipping on the Pacific coast of America. He sailed as far north as Baja California, and two of the plates depict men and women of that peninsula. He also reported gold in the region. A storm had separated Shelvocke's ship from the accompanying vessel on the expedition, and Shelvocke did not wait for the captain of that ship at the agreed locations in the Canaries and Juan Fernandez islands; instead, he sailed for Brazil and then to the west coast of South America, including stops at Payta, Peru, and Lower California. Two of the plates are notable for their depictions of California natives. Shelvocke returned home via Guam and Macao. Upon his return to England he was accused of piracy and taken prisoner. Betagh, in the preface to his book about the same expedition, describes Shelvocke's book as "entirely a deception, and his whole conduct a disgrace to his country." Hill notes that "this second edition is superior to that of the first edition of 1726. It was edited by Shelvocke's son, who corrected the text extensively in a further effort to vindicate his father from charges of piracy and embezzlement." The folding map depicts Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, with the route of the voyage traced. "The whole history of this expedition is a curious commentary upon the morals of the times. The English had passed out of the freebooting stage, strictly speaking, and were now eager to cover their privateering exploits with a little more clothing than in the preceding century" - Wagner. An important English Pacific voyage. According to the ownership inscription on the titlepage, this copy of Shevlocke's voyage was owned by Hugh Davies, a Welsh botanist and clergyman. He became rector of Llandegfan in 1778, and was elected a a Fellow of the Linnaean Society in 1790. In 1813 he published Welsh Botanology, considered the first book which cross-references the scientific names of plants with their names in Welsh. HILL 1558. HOWES S383, "aa." COWAN, pp.581-82. WAGNER SPANISH SOUTHWEST 88. BORBA DE MORAES, p.796. SABIN 80159. BARRETT 2261 (note). Contemporary speckled calf, gilt. Some scuffing and wear to boards and hinge, corners lightly worn. Contemporary ownership inscription on titlepage. Minor scattered soiling and foxing. Very good, in unsophisticated condition.
Seller Inventory # 47054
Contact seller
Report this item
