Discours of voyages into ye Easte & West Indies: deuided into foure bookes

Acquired From: Leen Helmink

Condition: Very Good

Confirmed: 2/10/2017

Date Acquired: 30/12/2017

Description: In 1583 Jan Huygen van Linschoten, a Dutch explorer, travelled to Goa, India where he served as secretary to João Vicente da Fonseca, the newly appointed Portuguese Archbishop. At the time, Goa was the capital of the Estado da Índia, the administrative term for Portugals vast territories across the Indian Ocean. Linschotens position placed him at the centre of the Portuguese empire.nDuring his stay in Goa, Linschoten gathered a wealth of information on India, the Spice Islands, China, and Japan, while also meticulously documenting the sea routes of the East Indies. After returning to the Dutch Republic in 1592, he prepared his observations and notes for publication with the Amsterdam publisher Cornelis Claesz.nIn 1596, Linschoten's Itinerario, Voyage ofte Schipvaert naer Oost ofte Portugaels Indien (Itinerary, Voyage or Navigation to the East or Portuguese Indies) was published. Two years later, this English translation titled Discours of Voyages into Ye East & West Indies was released. In 1596, Linschoten's Itinerario, Voyage ofte Schipvaert naer Oost ofte Portugaels Indien (Itinerary, Voyage or Navigation to the East or Portuguese Indies) was published. Two years later, this English translation titled Discours of Voyages into Ye East & West Indies was released. The book is divided into four parts. The first, concerning the East Indies, including eastern Africa and Arabia, and extending to regions as far east as Japan. The second book describes the navigation of the coasts of West Africa around the Cape of Good Hope to Arabia, together with the coasts of the New World. Book three, based on the discoveries of the Portuguese Royal pilot Diego Affonso, contains sailing directions from Portugal to India, and instructions for sailing in the East Indies from island to island. Similar instructions are given for the New World, particularly Brazil and Spanish America. Book four contains detailed information on the taxes, and other income, that the King of Spain extracted from his territories, both at home and overseas. Claesz was also largely responsible for the addition of the maps. The first Amsterdam edition had a world map by Petrus Plancius, first published in 1594, and five regional maps (#274 and View Record (#74)), which were made by Arnold and his brother Henricus.nMost of the maps and views of the English edition are re-engravings of the plates of the original Dutch edition 1596, with captions in Latin and English. The title page, engraved by William Rogers is adorned with the Elizabethan coat of arms, signifying the book's potential significance within the English monarch. Below the title is a fully-rigged three-masted and high-pooped carrack at anchor. Perhaps the one that Van Linschoten and the Archbishop of Goa, sailed in to the East Indies. nThe page also features smaller vignettes illustrating various ships, including oared galleys and proas. Native figures, identified as the King of Cochin and the King of Tangil, are portrayed, along with exotic animals and symbolic elements like armillary spheres and shields.

First published: Discours of voyages into ye Easte & West Indies: deuided into foure bookes London: John Wolfe, 1598

Mapmaker: Linschoten, Jan Huygen van, (1563-1611)

Price: 82,000

Primary Category: Book/Atlas

Purchase Reference: Ledger 2022

Rarity: R2 Very rare – one or two copies appear on the market

Technique: Book

This state: 1598, English