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Folio. (16 3/8 x 10 3/8 inches). Letterpress title-page printed in red and black. Engraved additional title-page dated 1671, four FINE double-page and folding plates, 28 double-page plates all mounted on guards, 6 single leaf plates, and 57 vignettes in the text (bound without the two maps, some plates with short, clean tears in the margins at mounts, one or two early repairs to short marginal tears, offset image of an unrelated but contemporary title-page made while the ink was still wet to page 617). Contemporary mottled calf, the spine in seven compartments, with six raised bands, red morocco lettering-piece in one, the others finely decorated with small gold tools (expertly rebacked preserving the original spine, corners strengthened). Provenance: Frank Sherwin Streeter (1918-2006) (Collection of Important Navigation, Pacific Voyages, Cartography and Science), his sale 17th April 2007, lot 395. First edition in English, from works mistakenly attributed to Montanus on the title-page, but in fact a translation of Olfert Dapper's work published the year before in Dutch as "Gedenkwaerdig Bedryf der Nederlandsche Oost-Indische Maetschappye op de Kuste en in het Keizerrijk van Taising of Sina" Amsterdam: Jacob van Meurs, 1670. Clearly bound without the general map of China and one other map sometimes recorded. John Ogilby had led a full and interesting life even before began printing the famous series of travel books that bear his name, of which "America" is the second (preceded by "Africa" in.). He was an investor in the Virginia Company lottery, a reknowned dancer, even owning his own dancing school and dancing before the King, founder and managing director of the first theatre in Dublin. Ogilby only turned to publishing after an accident left him lame and he was no longer able to dance, and the rise to power of Oliver Cromwell made frivolities like dancing unfashionable. Cordier Sinica 2349; Lowndes 1719; Lust 525; Wing D-242. Catalogued by Kate Hunter. Seller Inventory # 002415
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