South America Byron, John The Commodore John Byron's account of the great misfortunes which he and his company endured on the coast of Patagonia from the year 1740 until his arrival in England in 1746. Together with a description of St Jago in Chili ... translated from the English. With 1 engraved frontispiece. Frontispiece by S. Leitner. Nuremberg, Christoph Riegel's widow, 1769. 3 pp. (frontispiece, title page, preface), 200 pp. Cl.-8°. Hardcover with gilt title on spine, leather label, paste paper cover and red edges on three sides. Very rare first and only German edition of the English navigator Byron's dramatic account of his shipwreck off the southern Chilean coast and subsequent mutiny and imprisonment. - Sabin, J. Dictionary of books relating to America from its discovery to the present time, vol. III, 9731 and 9730 (citation) - Cf. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages, p. 366 - Only two copies have been found at auction in the last 30 years. - John Byron was an officer on the "Wager", a transport and supply ship that was part of Admiral George Anson's fleet of eight ships that were to harass the Spanish in the Pacific. The Wager successfully rounded Cape Horn, but ran aground in the Guayaneco Archipelago on 14 May 1741, followed by a mutiny of the surviving crew. Byron's grandson, the poet Lord Byron, would later refer to this story when he used the account of the shipwreck in his satirical poem on the adventures of Don Juan. With an early account of the island of Chiloe. - "Admiral Byron's narrative of the loss of the Wager is one of the most thrilling accounts in the language, and supplied his illustrious descendant with many particulars for the shipwreck 'Don Juan'" (Sabin). - Owner's note dated 1794 on recto of frontispiece, binding somewhat rubbed and bumped at corners, edges and joints, frontispiece and title somewhat worm-eaten at joint, some leaves slightly foxed at margins. South America. - With 1 copper engraved frontispiece by S. Leitner. - Very scarce first German edition of Byron's "Narrative" of his famous shipwreck off the Chilean coast following mutiny and captivity. - Only 2 copies traceable at auctions for us within the last 30 years. - Byron was a midshipman on the HMS "Wager", a transport and supply ship as part of Commodore George Anson's squadron sent to harass the Spanish in the Pacific. She rounded Cape Horn successfully but ran aground on 14 May 1741 in the Guayaneco Archipelago. Later a mutiny broke out among the surving crew. Byron's grandson, the poet Lord Byron, later used present narrative when writing the shipwreck account in his epic satirical poem chronicling the adventures of the eponymous Don Juan. - "Admiral Byron's narrative of the loss of the Wager is one of the most thrilling accounts in the language, and supplied his illustrious descendant with many particulars for the shipwreck in 'Don Juan'" (Sabin). With an early account on the Chiloe island. - Old owner's remark dated 1794 on frontispiece recto, binding somewhat worn and bumped at corners, edges and joints, frontispiece and title slightly worm-eaten at joint, some leaves slightly foxed at margins. This lot is taxed. A premium of 24.95% will be added to the hammer price and 7% (books, art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, silkscreens, offset prints, photographs) to the final invoice amount in the European Union. This work is subject to the regular margin scheme. There is a 24.95% buyer's premium on the hammer price and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offsetprints and Photographs) on the final invoice amount in the European Union.