Viertzehende Schiffart, oder, Gründliche und warhaffte Beschreibung dess Neuwen Engellandts [A Description of New England] - photo 1
Viertzehende Schiffart, oder, Gründliche und warhaffte Beschreibung dess Neuwen Engellandts [A Description of New England] - photo 2

Viertzehende Schiffart, oder, Gründliche und warhaffte Beschreibung dess Neuwen Engellandts [A Description of New England]

Lot 67
05.02.2026 10:00UTC +00:00
Classic
To bid, go to the website
CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
ID 1540315
Lot 67 | Viertzehende Schiffart, oder, Gründliche und warhaffte Beschreibung dess Neuwen Engellandts [A Description of New England]
Estimate value
$ 8 000 – 12 000
SMITH, John (c.1579–1631). Viertzehende Schiffart, oder, Gründliche und warhaffte Beschreibung dess Neuwen Engellandts einer Landschafft in Nordt Indien. Frankfurt am Main: 1617.

Rare first German edition of John Smith’s account of Viriginia, with first map of “New England”. The present work is the first German translation (and likely the first translation outside of English) of John Smith’s A Description of New England, which was first printed at London on year prior in 1616. The present edition forms the fourteenth installation in Levinus Hulsius’ anthology of travel literature, which began in 1596 as he translated and published voyage narratives and was continued by his heirs after his death in 1606. The map of New England present here is a variant of the one included in the English edition, and includes a portrait of Smith. It is the first map that refers to the region as “New England”.

Only 7 copies have appeared at auction; no copy has appeared at auction in over 40 years. Church 304; Sabin 33667.

Quarto (192 × 150mm). Engraved vignette on title-page, engraved folding map, full-page engraved scene of flora and fauna, final blank (upper margin rebacked in first quire, first quire partially disbound, stain in gutter of first quire, small marginal tear in map, slight separation between a few quires, few leaves lightly toned). Without covers or spine; housed in a custom box.
Place of origin:Germany
Auction house category:Printed books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
22.01.2026 – 05.02.2026
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.