Oblong 4to, (230 x 170 mm). 1 ff., 54 pp., including 5 full-page plates. Ninettenth simple citron calf, somewhat worn, in a fine quarter morocco back cloth clamshell case. As often trimmed, causing partial loss of letters to title, and on occasions just touching headlines, right top corner of title page with small piece missing affecting one letter, some pages with an old clumsy restoration at gutter entering printed surface of one plate -which can be fixed-, else some general browning but overall fine.

Known as the first printed account of a Dutch voyage to South America, this is one of rarest of all works relating to the Dutch interest in the region, it is also the first printed account of Buenos Aires as known today, here in the extremely scarce third edition.

The account was written by the captain of the smaller of the two ships that made up Bicker’s expedition: Hendrick Ottsen. The ships were called De Gulden Werelt and De Silveren Werelt (“The Golden World” and “The Silver World”), and they were fitted out by Admiral Laurens Bicker (1563-1606) and Pieter Gerritsz Ruytenburch for the purpose of establishing commerce with the Rio de la Plata -founded not 20 years ago-, and trading with Guinea on the West coast of Africa, with Bicker himself as the commander of the expedition and Cornelis van Heemskerk (1573-1618?) -brother of the famous Jacob van Heemskerk-, as the “commies” (merchant) on De Silveren Werelt. The ships became separated by a storm, called De Gulden Werelt sailed to Saint Thome and Sao Vicente, whilst the De Silveren Werelt made port in Buenos Aires and later anchored in Bahia, where the crew was taken prisoner until being rescued by the Dutch fleet under the command of Pieter van der Does.

This is the second known account of the River Plate region, the first of the “new” Buenos Aires, and one of the earliest and more famous Dutch voyages to South America. The only earlier account was that of Schmidel, who accompanied Mendoza in the 1530’s for the first foundation, which failed and was abandoned, in the 1580’s Garay made a second foundation, which was permanent and remains to-date, i.e., this is the first account of the Buenos Aires as known today.

It is the first printed account of a Dutch voyage to South America, and proved to be very important for later voyages, as the account includes a nautical chart and an extensive description of the harbor and city of Buenos Aires, founded only 20 years earlier, which is, as such, “one of the earliest descriptions of Buenos Aires” (Howgego).

“Very rare. It is interesting to note that Rodrigues (400), who owned the first edition, was unable to identify it even though it was an account of one of the most famous of all the Dutch voyages that called Brazil. The two ships that made up this expedition were called 'De Gulden Werelt' and 'De Silveren Werelt’... and they were fitted out by Laurens Bicker and Pieter Gerritsz Ruytenburch for the purpose of trading with Guinea and the Rio de la Plata. Separated by a storm, the 'De Gulden Werelt' sailed alone to Sao Tome, Principe Island and Sao Vicente... The 'De Silveren Werelt' had no better luck. After calling at Buenos Aires on her return voyage, she anchored in Bahia were the entire crew was taken prisoner. She was rescued by the Dutch fleet shortly afterwards under the command of Pieter van der Does” (Borba de Moraes).

The illustration is composed of a peculiar large engraving on title page portraying an Indian riding an armadillo and 5 full-page engraved folding plates: 1 map of the Rio de la Plata, and 4 views depicting the Island of St. Nicholas, a seal hunt, natives of Rio de la Plata and the Dutch at the entrance of Bahia (Brazil).

The only copy that has appeared on the market in the last 100 years was that offered by Kenneth Nebenzahl in 1963, it was then accompanied by two other books and the price was $6,500, a huge amount at the time.

Provenance: Alberto Dodero, sold in Sotheby’s (1964, lot 1050, for $ 476); Alejo Gonzalez Garano, engraved bookplate on front pastedown.

Borba de Moraes, pp. 640-641; Sabin 57901.