MAGNIFICENT SET OF THE THIRD AND BEST EDITION OF CHURCHILL’S COLLECTION OF VOYAGES AND TRAVELS, 1744-46: EIGHT LARGE AND RICHLY ILLUSTRATED FOLIO VOLUMES, INCLUDING OSBORNE’S RARE SUPPLEMENT, WITH MUCH ON NEW WORLD EXPLORATION

CHURCHILL, Awnsham and John. A Collection of Voyages and Travels, Some Now first Printed from Original Manuscripts, others Now first Published in English. Six volumes. WITH: OSBORNE, Thomas. A Collection of Voyages and Travels, Consisting of Authentic Writers in our own Tongue. Two volumes. London: Thomas Osborne, 1744-47. Together, eight volumes. Folio, contemporary full brown calf rebacked, red morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt.

Third and best edition of this important collection of voyages, including the rare two-volume supplement compiled by Thomas Osborne, copiously illustrated with over 300 engraved maps and plates, many double-page or folding. A handsomely bound set of this monumental collection in eight large folio volumes.

This expansive collection is highly prized for its range and for the fact that it contains the original accounts. Many of the accounts never appeared elsewhere in English, and the early editions were in constant use by contemporary travelers. The third edition is considered the best for the inclusion of additional material (the accounts of voyages and travels being updated to the present year) and a copious index. Most importantly, this set contains the rare supplementary volumes compiled from Lord Oxford’s library by Osborne, known as the Harleian Voyages. “This collection is very valuable; its place cannot be supplied by recurring to the original works, as a great part of them are first published in it from the manuscript” (Sabin 13017). Among many others, the following narratives are included: Brawern and Herckemann’s Voyage to Chili in 1642 and 1643; Captain John Monck’s voyage in 1619 and 1620 to Hudson’s Straits, to discover a passage between Greenland and America; Nieuhoff’s voyages to Brazil and the East Indies; John Smith’s travels in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America from the years 1592 to 1629; the life of Columbus by his son; Barbot’s description of North and South Guinea; and an account of the discovery of America from Herrera’s History of the West Indies. The introduction to the Churchill collection is attributed to John Locke. Originally published in 1704 in four volumes. Hill, 53. Sabin 13017, 57765. Bookplate in each volume. Early owner ink signature to title pages of Supplement.

Text with a few minor paper repairs and occasional light foxing. A tall, handsome, wide-margined set in excellent condition.