4to, (187 x 140 mm). 2 ff., double-page world map, 76 pp., and 11 plates and maps. Modern green straight-grain morocco, boards with elaborated wide gilt borders, raised bands to spine, tooled and lettered in gilt, gilt dentelles, excellent condition. A beautifully copy, some quires gently toned or browned, scattered foxing, else in excellent condition.

The double-page world map (Hulsius, 1598) contains cartouche portraits of Vespucci, Drake, Cavendish and Elcano. The title page is illustrated with a map centring on the Indian Ocean and showing the northwest coast of Terra Australis.

“This Part contains an account of the first voyage of Cornelis de Houtman to the East Indies, from March, 1595, to August, 1597. The work originally appeared at Middleburg in 1597, and it was this first edition that Hulsius had translated into German for this First Part. From the original edition were reproduced nine of the twelve plates and the map of Java. To these were added the maps of the world and Madagascar, and the plate, or map, of St. Helena. Another plate, that of the Eme, much more successful than in the Dutch edition of 1598, did not appear until the Second Edition (1599). On p. 45, third paragraph of sixteen lines, of this Edition, the Eme, or Emu, is referred to, but not named.” (Church, 256).

Hulsius set out to emulate the success of Theodor De Bry in publishing a collection of voyage accounts. The first of these was this narrative of Houtman’s voyage to the Indies (hence “Erste Schiffart” at the head of the title), which appeared in 1598. The copy offered here is the second edition, published in the following year. Although Hulsius died in 1606, his publishing project was continued by his widow and heirs, with 26 volumes ultimately completed, the last in 1650. These volumes were often printed in both German and Latin versions, in many cases in multiple editions.

Lenox Library, Hulsius, p. 3; Sabin, 33653; Asher, Bibliographical Essay, p. 17.