World.- Purchas (Samuel) Purchas his Pilgrimes. In Five Books..., 5 vol., first edition, 7 folding engraved maps, contemporary calf, by William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, 1625-26

World.- Purchas (Samuel) Purchas his Pilgrimes. In Five Books..., 5 vol. including vol.5: Purchas His Pilgrimage, first edition of vol.1-4, vol.5 fourth edition, second issue, lacking additional engraved title (as often, supplied in old photographic facsimile), with 7 folding and/or double-page engraved maps of the Mogul Empire, China (duplicated in vol.5), Greenland (Spitsbergen), North America, New England and Virginia (the latter in Verner's state 7 of 12) , 81 half-page engraved maps after Hondius (58 in vol.1-4 and 23 in vol.5, the latter duplications of maps in vol.1-4), a few other engraved or woodcut illustrations including Aztec pictograms from the Codex Mendoza in vol.3, vol.1 with Hondius's 'Map of the Christian World' appearing twice at pp. 65 and 115 i.e. lacking 'Map of the Whole World', and with G3-4 uncancelled as usual, also 4M4-5 uncancelled and second state of 4M2, severe paper flaw to 3M6 in vol.1 with loss to 5 lines of text and side-notes, vol.4 with map of Virginia torn and creased (repaired) and final 2 leaves slightly defective at fore-edge with loss to edge of 'Map of Great Brittaine and Ireland', occasional soiling or browning, a few stains, some other minor tears and defects, some repaired, near uniform contemporary calf ruled in blind, rubbed, vol.1-4 lacking ties and with holes from ties and hasps for chains, rebacked, new pink morocco labels, endpapers replaced, [Hill 1402-3; Sabin 66682 & 66686; STC 20508-9], folio, by William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, 1625-26.

⁂ An excellent tall set of this important collection of voyages, a continuation of Hakluyt's Principal Navigations, with fine impressions of the maps and in a contemporary (once chained) binding with a distinguished provenance. The map of the Mogul Empire by William Baffin is the earliest English map of the Mogul territories; the map of China is based on a Chinese original and one of the earliest such to be published in Europe; the map of Greenland (actually Spitsbergen) incorporates scenes of whaling and bear-hunting; the map of North America, by Elstracke after Henry Biggs, is the first to show California as an island; the map of New England was first published in 1624; the map of Virginia by William Hole after Capt. John Smith is one of the most important early maps of America and includes a large Indian figure and a vignette depicting the interior of Powhatan's hut.

Provenance: vol.1-4 from the ancient chained library of Queen's College, Oxford, presented by Anthony Hawles. With contemporary ink manuscript presentation label pasted to head of titles of vol.2-4: "Ex dono Anthony Hawles in Artib. Com.m / Christophero Potter S.S Theol. D. Praeposito. 1629" (partly removed from vol.2 & 3), and engraved Queen's College bookplates to verso of titles of vol.1-4. The library contains a second set, the present set was probably sold as a duplicate with other works in 1938.

A detailed collation and list of faults is available on request.

Anthony Hawles (1609-1663), was chaplain to Charles II while in exile, Archdeacon of Salisbury 1657-63 and a canon of Windsor from 1660 until his death.

Christopher Potter (1591-1646) was elected Provost of Queen's College in 1626. He was a chaplain to Charles I, a canon of Windsor and appointed Dean of Worcester in 1635, before being arrested in 1642 and having his Worcestershire properties sequestered.