THE HISTORY OF THE BUCANIERS OF AMERICA 1741 ALEXANDRE EXQUEMELIN FOURTH EDITION, VOLUME ONE ONLY

[EXQUEMELIN, Alexandre Olivier]. The History of the Bucaniers of America. Containing, I. The Exploits and Adventures of Le Grand, Lolonois, Roche Brasiliano, Bat the Portuguese, Sir Henry Morgan, &c. II. The Dangerous Voyage and Bold Attempts of Capt. Sharp, Watlin, Sawkins, Coxon, and Others in the South-Sea. III. A Journal of a Voyage into the South-Sea by the Freebooters of America, from 1684 to 1689. IV. A Relation of a Voyage of the Sieur de Montauban, Captain of the Freebooters in Guinea in the Year 1695. Exhibiting a Particular Account and Description of Porto Bello, Charge, Panama, Cuba, Havanna, and Most of the Spanish Possessions on the Coasts of the West-Indies, and Also all Along the Coasts of the South-Sea; With the Manner in Which They Have Been Invaded, Attempted, or Taken by These Adventurers. The Whole Written in Several Languages by Persons Present at the Transactions. Translated into English, and Illustrated With Copper-Plates. London: Printed for D. Midwinter, in St. Paul’s-Church-Yard; T. Woodward, at the Half-Moon between the Temple-Gates; C. Bathurst, at the Cross-Keys against St. Dunstan’s Church, both in Fleet-Street; and A. Ward, at the King’s-Arms in Little-Britain, MDCCXLI. [1741].

The fourth edition. Volume one only of two; leather-bound; hardcover; duodecimo (17cm x 10cm x 3.5cm); pp. [6], 354, [24] advertisements. English text. Bound in contemporary full calf, gilt; initial and terminal blanks present; 5 engraved plates, including a frontispiece, plus an additional 3 fold-out plates depicting a battle scene at Panama, a map describing of the South Sea and coasts of America, and a map of Panama and surrounding area; head-pieces and decorative capitals. Condition: FAIR to GOOD. Volume one only (lacking volume two). The joints are starting, the hinges with old reinforcements. Spine ends and points rubbed with some losses. Contents complete with all the illustrations intact, some minor tears to folding plates. Light intermittent toning with some brown spots. A sound copy of this rare and desirable title.

Notes: Rare fourth edition - a translation of Alexander Olivier Exquemelin's 'De Americaanse zeerovers', first published in 1678. The classic sourcebook on buccaneering. Exquemelin was an eyewitness of many of the events he records here, and the work has been the source and inspiration for innumerable tales, novels, plays, and films. "Perhaps no book in any language was ever the source of so many imitations, and the source of so many fictions as this" (Sabin). [ESTC N9378; Sabin 23489].