Raleigh, The Discoverie of... Guiana

RALEIGH, Sir Walter (1554-1618).
The Discoverie of the Large, Rich and Bewtiful Empire of Guiana, with a relation of the great and Golden Citie of Manoa (which the Spanyards Call El Dorado) And of the Provinces of Emeria, Arromaia, Amapaia, and other Countries, , with their rivers, adjoyning.
London: Robert Robinson, 1596.
Comparable: Sotheby's, 2016 - $18,750.
4to (7 x 5 in.; 17.8 x 12.7 cm). Woodcut device on title-page, head- and tailpieces, historiated initials; washed and pressed, a few headlines shaved. Full 20th century red morocco levant by Rivière, marbled endpapers, edges gilt; upper board detached.
THE JOHN L. CLAWSON COPY OF ONE OF THE SUPREME WORKS OF ELIZABETHAN TRAVEL LITERATURE.
The second edition of Raleigh’s account of his second voyage, with all points conforming to Sabin’s 67554. Raleigh’s voyage took him to modern Venezuela in search of the mythical city of gold, El Dorado. Although the city was not found, Raleigh argued that Guiana had the potential to yield many riches, and be an advantageous stronghold against the Spanish: “Guiana is a Country that hath yet her Maydenhead, never sackt, turned, nor wrought, the face of the earth hath not been torne, not the virtue and salt of the soyule spent by manurance, the graves have not beene opened for gold, the mines not broken with sledges, nor their Images puld down out of their temples. It hath never been entered by any armie of strength, and never conquered or possessed by any Christian Prince. It is besides so defensible, that if two fortes be builded in one of the provinces which I have seen, the flood setteth in so neere the banke, where the channel also lyeth, that no shippe can passe up, but with Pikes length of the Artillerie, first the one, and afterwards of the other (pp. 96–97).
Shakespeare is believed to have obtained his knowledge of the “still vexed Bermoothes” for “The Tempest” from this book.
PROVENANCE: John L. Clawson (1865–1933), his small morocco ticket and sale, Anderson Galleries, 21 May 1926).
REFERENCES: Alden & Landis 596/85; Church 254; Sabin 67554; STC 20636.