South America Gambóa, Pedro Sarmiento de Viage al Estrecho de Magallanes ... En los años de 1579, y 1580. Y noticia de la expedicion Que despues hizo para poblarle. With 3 engraved plates. Madrid, Imprenta Real de la Gazeta, 1768. LXXXIV, 402 (1), 1 p., (title "Declaration"), XXXIII (I) p. 4°. Hldr. of the 20th cent. with decor. Spine gilt title and stone marb. Covers. First printing of the long-lost report of Gambóa's early mapping and description of the Strait of Magellan 1579/80. - Sabin, J. Dictionary of books relating to America from its discovery to the present time, vol. XVIII, 77094. - Cf. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages, p. 1526. - Presumably one of a few copies on large paper "said to be on larger and thicker paper" (Sabin), only once traceable for us at auctions in the last 20 years. - The navigator and cosmographer Pedro Sarmiento de Gambóa (1532-92) set sail in 1579 as commander of the "Nuestra Senora de Guia" and the "Almiranta", originally tasked with intercepting Francis Drake, which was ultimately unsuccessful. When he reached the Strait of Magellan, he drew up maps and made observations of the strait with the aim of colonising the area for Spain. The Spanish king later adopted his plan and appointed him governor of a future colony, the founding of which, however, ended in disaster through no fault of Sarmiento's own. His handwritten report was only discovered 200 years after it was written in the Madrid court library and published for the first time as printed here. - The clearly engraved engravings with detailed depictions of various islands, elevations, bays, etc. along the Strait of Magellan. - Provenance: Discarded copy from the "Foreign Office Library" (now in King's College, London), with library stamp on recto of title page and discard stamp on verso. - Title page slightly foxed and fingerstained, the untrimmed margins slightly dusty, plates and some leaves slightly waterstained, otherwise a clean, wide-margined copy. South America. - First printing of the long-lost early mapping and description of the Strait of Magellan by explorer Gambóa in 1579/80. - Probably one of only a few copies 'said to be on larger and thicker paper' (Sabin), for us only once traceable at auctions in the last twenty year. - The navigator and cosmographer Pedro Sarmiento de Gambóa (1532-92) set sail in 1579 as commander of the 'Nuestra Senora de Guia' and the 'Almiranta', originally with instructions to capture Francis Drake. On reaching the straits of Magellan this mission was subverted into an opportunity to make charts and observations of the straits and to develop a plan to prevent any further incursions into the Pacific by colonising and fortifying the region. The King of Spain later adopted his plan, and appointed him the governor of the future colony. Unfortunately, through no fault of Sarmiento's, the attempt at colonisation ended in disaster. His notes were found in the Madrid court library around 200 years after they were written and published for the first time with present edition. - The clear engravings with detailed depictions of various islands, elevations, bays, etc. along the Strait of Magellan. - Provenance: Ex-library copy from the 'Foreign Office Library' (now in King's College, London), with library stamp on recto of title page and ex-libray stamp on verso. - Title page occasionally foxed and finger-stained, the untrimmed margins slightly dusty, plates and some leaves very slightly water-stained, otherwise a clean, wide-margined copy. This lot is taxed. A surcharge 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.