Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller

New Light on Drake: A collection of documents relating to his voyage of circumnavigation, 1577-1580 [Second Series, No. XXXIV]

Nendeln (Liechtenstein): Kraus Reprint Limited, 1967. Reprint. Hardcover. Quarto. LVI, 443, [1]pp. Original blue cloth, with gold lettering and blind ruling on spine. Frontispiece. This remarkable volume is a collection of translated Spanish official documents, depositions by prisoners, documents relating to Nuño da Silva, etc., pertaining to Sir Francis Drake's famous voyage around the world. Drake was noted in his life for one daring feat after another; his greatest was his circumnavigation of the earth, the first after Magellan's. He sailed from Plymouth on Dec. 13, 1577. The squadron consisted of five vessels, the two larger ships being the Pelican, Drake's own ship, renamed Golden Hind on the voyage, on August 20, 1578; and the Elizabeth, commanded by John Winter. Three smaller vessels were the Marigold, Swan, and Benedict. Only one ship, the Golden Hind, made the complete voyage, returning on Sept. 26, 1580, "very richly fraught with gold, silver, pearls and precious stones" (Stow, Annales , p. 807). The expedition was financed as a joint venture, the investors being such high officials as Privy Councilors Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester; Sir Francis Walsingham; the Earl of Lincoln, Lord High Admiral of England; also, Sir Christopher Hatton; Sir William Winter, Surveyor and Master of Ordnance of the Navy; and John Hawkins, Drake's former commander. Queen Elizabeth herself may have been an investor, though this is not quite certain; what is certain is that she appropriated the lion's share of the proceeds of the voyage. Drake himself participated to the tune of £1000, a good sum for that time. These joint venture companies, partnerships, or associations were a common method of organizing and financing commercial voyages, military expeditions, and colonizing activities, from the Middle Ages onwards. This volume is complete with all its full-page and folded plates. Minor age-toning and slight discoloration spots to spine. Binding in overall good+, interior in very good condition. g to vg. Item #39268

Price: $45.00

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