Földvári Books

Early Account of the Discovery of America

Sabellicus (Sabellico), Marcus Antonius; Hedio, Caspar (Kaspar)

Opera M. Antonii Coccii Sabellici in duos digesta tomos. Rapsodiae historicae enneadum XI, […] D. Casparis Hedionis Historica synopsi, […]. Accesserunt libri decem exemplorum argumentis & thematis instar locorum communium ordine distincti, […].

Basileae [Basel]: Ex officina Hervagiana (Johannes Herwagen) [In colofon: Apud Ioannem Hervagium et Erasmium Frobenium Anno M. D. XXXVIII. Mense Martio. Anno M. D. XXXVIII [1538]. First Basel edition. Two volumes, in 18th-century uniform leather, spine with raised bands, compartments gilt, with title vignettes. Signatures: Volume 1: [flower]⁴ [alpha]¹⁰ a–c⁶ d⁴ ²a–2z⁶ A–2A⁶ 2B⁸; Volume 2: a*⁸ b*⁶ c*⁸ [dagger]⁸ 2A&am. Woodcut printer’s device on title and final pages. Woodcut initials throughout. Binding rubbed, corners bumped. The second volume’s woodcut devices on the title and the last page, and 3 initials from the last two leaves are clipped. Occasional 18th-century underlines and marginal notes throughout both volumes, more to the second. Reoccurring water stains to the upper edge and to the lower outer corner in both volumes. Sporadic foxing. Pages of signature m–n in the first volume are tanned, few other pages too. A closed tear on 2B5 in the first volume, not affecting the legibility. A closed tear on 2Q3 in the second volume, not affecting the legibility. Grey stains on 3k5 in the second volume. Otherwise in very good condition.

One of the earliest accounts of the discovery of America by Columbus.

The second volume contains a long reference to the first and second voyages of Columbus and the discovery of America (pp. 766–7), and a curious passage about the Admiral’s early life, possibly confusing him with a pirate (“quas Columbus iunior archipirata illustris cruento proelio oppresserat” p. 758). It was written before 1503 when the only printed works related to the New World were Columbus’ Letter, the Syllacio-Coma letter, and — according to Harrisse — one of Vespucci’s letters. Originally published in 1504 in Venice, very soon after the edition of Foresti Bergomensis’ Novissime hystoriarum (4 May 1503) which is the earliest report on Columbus’ discoveries by a general author.

Although the present edition, the first in Basel (and outside of Italy and France), is fairly well represented in libraries (often lacking the second volume), it is extremely rare on the market, according to RBH no copy appeared at auction since 1953 (Harmsworth), except for the first volume only in 2007 and 2011 (Bloomsbury). Sabin 74665; USTC 679630.

Price: €5,000.00