GOTTFRIED, Johann Ludwig [i.e. Johann Philipp ABELIN] (d. c. 1634). Newe We

GOTTFRIED, Johann Ludwig [i.e. Johann Philipp ABELIN] (d. c. 1634). Newe Welt und Americanische Historien. Frankfurt: Mattheus Merian, 1631. Rare frst edition of this important compilation of narratives of voyages to the Americas. Abelin, best known by his assumed name of Gottfried, was a German chronicler who worked as a translator for the publishing house of Lucas Jennisius, Mattheus Merian and Friedrich Hulsius in Frankfurt. His Newe Welt und Americanische Historien was published by Mattheus Merian, the son-in-law of the publisher Johann Theodor De Bry, and the 174 half-page engraved illustrations had been previously published in De Bry's Great Voyages. The frst part is an abridgement of the 'histories' of previous authors, such as Acosta, Oviedo, Herrera. The second part is an account of 33 voyages to America from Columbus to Spilbergen and Schouten, and of the conquest of Brazil by the Dutch; while the third is a summary of the voyage of Jacob Heremite through the Americas. Borba de Moraes I, 372; Burden I, 235 (Americas map) and I, 219 and Verner, 'Smith's Virginia and its Derivatives' in Tooley, Mapping of America, pp.163-4 for the Virginia map. 3 parts in one volume, folio (370 x 230mm). Gothic type, some Roman. Engraved frontispiece, folding map of the Americas derived from the 1618 map by Jodocus Hondius, Smith's map of Virginia in derivative 3 as per Verner, and 5 other plates, some folding, 174 half-page engraved illustrations, woodcut initials and decorative headpieces at the opening and closing of each part, with blank Aaa6 (marginal wormtracks afecting the frontispiece and one folding plate, this latter with tiny marginal tear just into engraved border but without loss, tiny rust hole to Virginia map, map of Brazil trimmed close at foot and with very short marginal tear at creasefold but without loss, occasional faint and insignifcant browning). Contemporary vellum, blind fllet borders, manuscript title on spine, blue edges (lacking ties, inner boards wormed, front free endpaper torn). Provenance: some scattered 18th-century marginal annotations in German – Robert Gibson (bookplate).