Beschreibung:

New World Navigation & Discovery The first account in Spanish, 1519 ENCISO, Martín Fernández de (ca 1470-1528). Suma de geographia que trata de todas las partidas y prouincias del mundo: en especial delasindias. Y trata largemente del arte del marear: juntamente con la espera en romance: con el regimiento del sol y del norte: nueuamente hecha. Seville: Jacob Cromberger, 1519. First edition of the first account in Spanish of the discoveries in the New World; also the first practical guide to sailing in American waters and the first navigational manual printed in Spain. Martin Fernández de Enciso, born in Seville, was by 1508 living in Santo Domingo, the capital of Hispaniola, where he successfully practiced law and financed and planned sea expeditions. In 1510 he sailed with two ships to support the settlement of San Sebastián. Vasco Núñez de Balboa participated in this expedition and subsequently became the first European to see the Pacific from its eastern shore. In 1514 Enciso served with Pedro Arias de Ávila (known as Pedrairias), the first governor of Castilla de Oro (Panama), and upon his return to Spain he wrote the Suma. The work was intended partly as an aid to pilots, as well as for the instruction of King Charles V. "The word 'America' was here used for the first time in a Spanish printed text, a denomination that in Spain remained rare until the 19th century ... Using a great variety of both oral and written sources plus his own experience, Encisco compiled a practical book with useful information, especially for pilots. In his description of the natives he gives precise information about the distinct physical characteristics of each tribe as well as their particular attitude towards the Spanish" (Ángel Delgado Gómez, Spanish Historical Writing about the New World 5). "A great hydrographer and explorer, his work is invaluable for the early geographical history of this continent" (Harrisse). The work was a great success, and other editions were published in 1530 and 1546. Alden & Landis 519/4; Church 42; Harrisse 97; JCB (3) I:73; Palau y Dulcet 88433; Sabin 22551; Stillwell Science VI:836. Not in Adams. Extremely rare: according to RBH there has been only one other complete copy to appear at auction in the past 100 years, the Frank Streeter copy sold in these rooms in 2007. Folio (272 x 196mm). Large woodcut of a sphere within woodcut border on title, 2 woodcut diagrams in text (without final blank, a very few minor repairs to margins or filling in of wormholes, marginal repair to d2). 18th-century vellum, spine lettered in manuscript. A very attractive copy.