This is the first edition of this historic collection of voyages, and one of the more famous works on Elizabethan history. Hakluyt compiled the narratives of British explorations and voyages and published them in three parts bound in a single volume. The first two parts recount the travels in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Europe. The third part describes voyages to America, including those of Cabot, Hawkins, Gilbert, Frobisher, Drake, Lane, and Hariot. Detailed descriptions of early settlements in Virginia and the Carolinas are given, as well as accounts of explorers searching for a Northwest Passage. This example is lacking the folding map, which is missing from most copies, but includes the six-leaf insert on Sir Francis Drake's circumnavigation, which was inserted between p. 643 and p. 644 and is missing from many copies. This example also includes the shorter, amended account of Sir Jerome Bowes’s embassy to Russia paginated 491–501. Quarto; 825 pp. with additional 12-page Drake insert (837 total pages). Rebound in 19th century sprinkled calf covers with blind-stamped calf spine with raised bands and black leather title label; new endpapers.

References: Sabin #29594.

Condition: B+

The text block has very light toning and occasional soiling, and is closely trimmed at top. There are old manuscript ink notations on the title page and scattered throughout the text. Three leaves are torn with no loss. The title page is toned and soiled and has been rebacked. The covers have bumped corners and a few small chips and scuffs. The spine has some light staining.