Navigation and Commerce, their Original and Progress.

EVELYN, John.

Published by London: Printed by T. R. for Benjamin Tooke, 1674

About this Item

First edition, written as the introduction to Evelyn's history of the battle for sovereignty over the seas between England and Holland, which he had been commissioned to write by Charles II. By the time it was published peace had been negotiated with Holland. The work gave such offence to the Dutch that the ambassador demanded its suppression. The rest of his work, given to Samuel Pepys in 1681 for his proposed history of the Navy, is lost. The book gives an interesting account of the discovery of America by Columbus, and the Venetian Zeno who is "reported to have discover'd the North East part of America above an hundred Years before" and "a certain obscure Mariner (Alphonse Zanches de Huelva who was blown on to the American coast by a storm eight years before Columbus and who bequeathed Columbus all his Charts and Papers"; and "some mean Bisayers (losing themselves in pursuit of Whale Fishing) had fall'n upon some of the American Islands above an hundred years before either"; then of subsequent voyages by Amerigo Vespucci, John Cabot and many other explorers. There are even a couple of brief mentions of the "Antipodes". ESTC R8611; Goldsmiths' 2078; Keynes, Evelyn, 92; Kress 1358; Sabin 23028; Wing E3504. Octavo (171 x 108 mm), pp. [vi], 120, [16]. Recent reversed calf, spine ruled in blind, lettered and dated in gilt. Without the initial blank leaf. Natural paper flaw to pp. 115-116 with loss of a few characters, last few leaves with minor worming at foot just touching text; leaf edges lightly toned, occasional spotting, first few leaves with early reader's marginal side-ruling in ink, small stain to title, withal still a good copy.

Seller Inventory # 184435

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Navigation and Commerce, their Original and Progress.
• Publisher: London: Printed by T. R. for Benjamin Tooke, 1674
• Edition: 1st Edition