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Histoire des Avanturiers / Histoire des Pirates Anglois, four volumes (1744), by Alexandre-Olivier O

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Documents Start Price:500.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,000.00 USD
Histoire des Avanturiers / Histoire des Pirates Anglois, four volumes (1744), by Alexandre-Olivier O
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This item SOLD at 2017 Nov 03 @ 13:09UTC-4 : AST/EDT
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Histoire des Avanturiers / Histoire des Pirates Anglois, four volumes (1744), by Alexandre-Olivier Oexmelin (Exquemelin) and Charles Johnson (translated into French), very rare and important early editions in matching modern binding with engraved plates. Each volume 6-1/2" x 3-3/4", 1528 pages total (numbered). The most important text of all time concerning pirates in the Caribbean is unquestionably Exquemelin's History of the Buccaneers of the Americas (various spellings abound for the names of both the author and the book), first published in 1678 in Amsterdam, and the present lot is a 1744 French version of same with an added volume (also translated into French) of A General History of the Robberies and Murders of the most notorious Pyrates (first published in 1724) by Captain Charles Johnson, which many believe was a pen name for the famous author Daniel Dafoe. In any case that volume was famous for reporting the exploits of the two most famous female pirates, Mary Read and Anne Bonny. The main book by Exquemelin is the source for most of what we know about the career of Henry Morgan. Textual content aside, this set is important for its selection of seven foldout copperplate-engraved maps and plates (in Volumes 1 and 3), in addition to the frontispiece, all of which are in like-new condition, the rest of the contents also in good shape with no outright damage, minimal foxing from age, and the modern bindings tight and clean (just the first volume a bit worn). Inked at the front of the first three volumes is "Institute of Science and Historical Society of [St.] Augustin[e]" and rubber stampings for The St. Augustine Historical Society Library can be found throughout, also with penciled notation in front of first volume: "from library of Henry Beaufoy with his bookplate." A worthy set for collectors of all kinds.