This is the second English edition of Alexandre Olivier Exquemelin's History of the Bucaniers of America, a fascinating work describing the voyages and adventures of numerous buccaneers who sailed throughout the New World. Exquemelin's work was first published in Dutch in 1678 and was very popular, appearing in nearly every European language within ten years of its publication, and continued to be issued for nearly 100 years. This third and fourth parts of this edition have a second title: A Journal of a Voyage Made into the South Sea, by the Bucaniers or Freebooters of America. This edition includes 23 (of 25) copperplate maps and engravings, most of which are folding. The maps are:

A. Map of the Countrey and Citty of Panama. (11 x 7.25")
B. A Description of ye Laguna of Gulf of Ballona. (5.75 x 7.25")
C. A Description of ye English Gulfe Lying a litle to the Northward of Magallanes Straights. (6 x 7.25")
D. The Bay of Panama and Gulf of Ballona. (5.75 x 7.25")
E. Isla de la Gorgona. (4.25 x 7.25")
F. Sr. Fran: Drakes Isle or Isla de la Plata. (2.8 x 1.8")
G. A Decription of Hilo. (4.25 x 7.25")
H. The Citty of Serena. (4.25 x 7.25")
I. The Ciudad de la Serena. (4.25 x 7.25")
J. Isla de Juan Fernandez. (4.25 x 7.25")
K. A Description of Arica. (4.25 x 7.25")
L. A Description of Guasco. (4.25 x 7.25")
M. Gulf of Nicoya Described. (8 x 6")
N. A description of Gulfo Dulce. (7.5 x 6.75")
O. A Description of Paita and Colan. (4.25 x 7.25")
P. A Description of his Royal Highnesses Isles. (4.25 x 7.25")

The engravings are: The Cruelty of Lolonois, The Town of Puerto del Principe taken, and The Battel Between the Spaniards and the Pyrats or Buccaniers Before the Citty of Panama. There are also four portraits of buccaneers depicting Henry Morgan, Bartolomeu Portugues, Roche Brasiliano, and Francois l'Olonnais.

There is one missing map (A Description of the South Sea & Coasts of America Containing Ye Whole Navigation and all those Places at Which Capt: Sharp and His Companions Were in the Years 1680 & 1681) and one missing engraving (The Spanish Armada Destroyed by Captaine Morgan).

Octavo, 564 pp. of text plus index. Full original leather with raised bands on spine.

References: Sabin #23483.

Condition: B+

The condition grade is for the maps and plates, which have light toning, occasional foxing, and short fold separations on several maps that are mostly confined to the blank margins. The text is generally good with light toning, foxing, and some manuscript notations. The hinges are starting, the spine is cracked and the covers show light wear. A bookplate and notations from several previous owners appear on the front pastedown and front free-endpaper.