[40] (incl. engraved pictorial title), 284, [36] pp. (*8, a8, b4, A-V8). With engraved pictorial title-page & engraved vignette on printed title. (8vo) 7x4¼, modern vellum.
Rare work on the discovery of the West Indies, written in 1524, but not published until the present edition. Sabin describes the work in fair detail: "A very scarce and curious volume on the discovery of the West Indies, written in 1524. Its writer was the intimate friend of Columbus, the one whose interest prevailed over Ferdinand to fit out the first expedition in search of unknown lands, and proved the feasability of discovery by mathematical demonstration. Previous to being appointed Bishop of St. Domingo, he had been Ambassador to the Court of Henry VIII of England. We learn from the twelve leaves of verses of commendation of the author and his travels by various authors, in Greek, Latin, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Hungarian, and English languages, the latter written by John Walker, that the bishop had had the charge of four queens, the greatest of whom was Catherine of Aragorn, queen of Henry VIII." Sabin 27116.
Condition:
Contents with moderate darkening and rippling from dampness, 1" tear to Q5 affecting no text, preliminary leaves *7 and *8 transposed; else very good.