[ACARETE DU BISCAY]

A Relation of Mr. R.M.'s voyage to Buenos-Ayres: and from thence by land to Potosi. Dedicated to the Honourable the Court Directors of the South-Sea Company

London: John Darby, 1716. 8vo. v, 3-117, [3]pp. Folding engraved map titled 'Part of the great river de la Plata, of Tucuman' by H. Moll.

Modern speckled calf, spine gilt with leather label

Rare work, particularly of interest for the accounts of the commercial ventures in the River de la Plata.

A reprint of the 1698 English translation of Voyage of Sieur Accarrete to Buenos Aires, originally published as no. 37 in Thévenots Relation de divers voyages curieux (1672). Though no details about the author are known beyond his name, it is speculated that he may have been a French Basque. The handsome folding map by Moll is "A New Map of Part of the Great River de la Plata, of Tucuman." The dedication in this edition by Darby is addressed to the directors of the South Sea Company. In it Darby points to a profitable future in the South American trade: "I don't doubt but by your wise Direction, under the Patronage of your August Governour, our Wealth and Commerce will be vastly increas'd: this Way being evidently the easiest and speediest to convey the Product and Manufactures of Europe to Chili and Peru, and also the safest to bring Gold and Silver from thence into this part of the World."

European Americana 716/1; Sabin 42918; Palau 260451; JCB (1)III:215.

Item #28658

Price: $1,800.00