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RALEIGH, Sir Walter (c.1552-1618). The Discoverie

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London: Robert Robinson, [1596]. Small 4to (172 x 130 mm). 112pp., [A-P4]. Woodcut ornament to title, woodcut chapter initials and headpieces many with historiation. 19th-century calf by Riviere, gilt spine and turn-ins, gilt edges. Condition: upper margin of title restored in partial facsimile, a few repairs to at least 3 leaves, margins shaved, some soiling; turn-ins faded to endpapers, joints tender, light shelfwear. Provenance: Old East India House/ Ex Libris/ Boies Penrose (bookplate to front-free endpaper); Boies Penrose II (armorial bookplate to front pastedown); Acquisition: purchased from William Reese Company (2000), $9,200. first edition, the boies penrose copy of raleigh's account of seeking el dorado. There were three issues of this work, all printed in 1596. This is the rare third issue with p.21, reading 'Nueuo reygno de Granada', p.60, line 12 starting 'it, there' and the variant spelling 'Empyre' and 'Citie' on line 6 of title-page. England was a relative latecomer to the Age of Exploration. Sir Walter Raleigh played a leading role in England's early efforts at increasing the Elizabethan empire. Declaring his voyage in the name of Queen Elizabeth, whenever he came across an Indian community he told them, through an interpreter, about the Queen; even showing them her image, for greatest appeal. Raleigh wrote, "I shewed them her Majesty's picture, which they so admired and honoured...so as in that part of the world her Majesty is very famous an admirable, whom they now call Ezrabeta cassipuna aquerewana, which is as much as "Elizabeth, the Great Princess, or Greatest Commander." Whenever possible Raleigh used native guides on the voyage, believing their employ the easiest way to assume power over this new land and profit from a mutual friendship. Raleigh described in plentiful detail the lush, natural habitat he encountered, 'On the banks of these rivers were divers sorts of fruits good to eat, flowers and trees of such variety as were sufficient to make ten volumes of Herbals; we relieved ourselves many times with the fruits of the country, and sometimes with fowl and fish. We saw birds of all colours...'. Such imagery is often attributed to influencing Shakespeare's writing of 'The Tempest'. Though Raleigh only found tiny amounts of gold, he still held steadfast to the legendary rich return to be found in El Dorado. Perhap enamored by the beauty and other natural wealth of the land, he was convinced that there were well hidden veins of gold in the mountains of northern South America. 'I will promise these things that follow, which I know to be true. Those that are desirous to discover and to see many nations may be satisfied within this river, which bringeth forth so many arms and branches leading to several countries...And the shining glory of this conquest will eclipse all those so far-extended beams of the Spanish nation' -Sir Walter Raleigh European Americana 596/85; Church 254; Sabin 67553; STC 20636.

AE Footnotes [12]

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