Landmark Books in All Fields
ItemID: #110856
Cost: $55,000.00

America

John Ogilby

"GREATLY VALUED… VERY SCARCE": OGILBY'S REMARKABLE 1671 AMERICA, WITH SPLENDID FOLIO MAPS AND VIEWS

OGILBY, John. America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the New World; Containing The Original of the Inhabitants, and the Remarkable Voyages thither. The Conquest of the Vast Empires of Mexico and Peru, and Other Large Provinces and Territories, with the Several European Plantations in Those Parts. London: by the Author, 1671. Folio (11 by 17 inches), modern full russet morocco, raised bands. $55,000.

First edition of one of the greatest illustrated English works on the New World, with 51 splendid double-page engraved views and maps, six full-page portraits, frontispiece, and 66 illustrations in the text. The work contains "the first extensive account of Maryland" and one of the earliest views of New York City. A handsomely bound, wide-margined copy.

Ogilby's America is a considerable extension of Montanus' 1670 De Nieuwe en Onbekende Weereld, on which it is in part based. Known especially for its accounts of New England, New France, Maryland and Virginia (which are derived from English sources), it is valued for its remarkable illustrations, which include wonderful scenes of Indian life, confrontations with explorers, etc., and for its 18 double-page and folding maps of the Americas, Maryland, New England, Jamaica, and others. America was the second volume in Ogilby's projected series of atlases. As with all of Ogilby's productions, it was designed as an "Edition De Luxe." The work contains "the first extensive account of Maryland" and one of the earliest views of New York City. "Greatly valued… very scarce" (Borba de Moraes). "Ogilby may be considered as the English De Bry, his works are similar in their objects, compilation, and mode of illustrations" (Cox II, 69). There is no clear agreement on issue points—the work exists in at least two issues, and possibly more. This copy seems to be a mixed issue with elements of both: it contains the Arx Carolina plate, often not present, and considered first issue, as it was replaced in later issues with a map of Carolina; but has the map of Barbados (uncalled for in the plate list), regarded as second issue. Without "Instructions to the Binder" leaf, as often; text complete. Howes O41. Cox II, 69. Sabin 50089. Schwartz & Ehrenberg, 118. Engraved armorial bookplate. The map "Nova Virginiae Tabula" has been annotated in a contemporary hand to read "Terrae-Mariae Nova et Virginiae Tabula."

Folding map of the western hemisphere reinforced on verso along lower edge, a handful of other plates with marginal paper repairs on versos, not affecting images. Engraved impressions uniformly dark and clear throughout, text and plates quite clean. An excellent, complete, wide-margined copy, handsomely bound.

Main Office & Gallery: 1608 Walnut Street, 19th Floor .::. Philadelphia, PA 19103 .::. 215-546-6466 .::. fax 215-546-9064
web: www.baumanrarebooks.com .::. email: [email protected]