Alexandre Exquemelin (1645?-1707)

Starting price
£ 2 000
Auction dateClassic
09.12.2020 00:00UTC +01:00
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CHRISTIE'S
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United Kingdom, London
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ID 470281
Lot 138 | Alexandre Exquemelin (1645?-1707)
Alexandre Exquemelin (1645?-1707)

Bucaniers of America. 1684

EXQUEMELIN, Alexandre Olivier (1645?-1707). Bucaniers of America: Or, a true Account of the Most remarkable Assaults Committed of late years upon the Coasts of the West Indies, By the Bucaniers of Jamaica and Tortuga, both English and French. London: for William Crooke, 1684.



First edition in English of this classic account of the pirates, then at the apogee of their power and menace. 'The "classic" of all buccaneering books ... Exquemelin's account became the inspiration for a vast number of novels, plays, and imaginary voyages' (Hill). First issued in Dutch in 1678, this English translation was based on a Spanish edition of 1681, with the result that it emphasised the worst aspects of English pirates. As a result some former bucanneers sued the publisher for libel; Sir Henry Morgan, honoured with a portrait and a view of his destruction of the Spanish fleet, won a judgment and was awared £200 and a public apology. The fourth part (Ringrose) published as a second volume in 1685 is not present here. Church 689; Hill 578; Sabin 23479; Wing E-3894.



Quarto (234 x 170 mm). One engraving in the text and 9 engraved portraits, views and plans, 3 of which double-page (small 15mm hole to D3 with loss of letters to 4 words, 40mm marginal tear to K2 affecting side note on verso, tiny rust hole to Bb1 affecting a couple of letters in 2 words, small stain to Ff3r affecting a couple of letters, repaired marginal tear to Fff4 just into text but without loss, occasional light staining slightly more pronounced in part 2). 19th-century half calf (restored and refurbished).

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