Search Results: Authors starting with J from Bruce Marshall Rare Books

Copper engraved map, outlined in colour, from "Atlas Major", coat-of-arms of France and Britain, decorative title cartouche, scales adorned with pucci, ocean embellished with three ships, compass rose, central vertical fold, Latin text to verso, wide margins, overall size 470 x 595mm 1666
A large decorative map of the historic territories of Virginia and Florida, covering the region from present day Florida to Chesapeake Bay, including the States of Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia. Chesapeake Bay is shown in some detail, following John Smith's exploration of the region. There are two fictional lakes around the Apalachian Mountains. The work pays particular attention to the interests of the French and British, both marked by their own coat of arms. The British as ruler of the northeast with the French claiming the southern portion of this land. The French territory of present day Georgia, rests on the claims prior to being forced out by the Spanish in the 1560s.
The work is the culmination of… Read More

Woodcut map of the Americas, second state with 'Peru' written horizontally, double-headed eagle holding the coat of arms of Castile and Leon, image 166 x 130mm. (sheet 188 x 140mm.), [Antwerp, 1566, 1567 or 1583]
An extremely rare map of the Americas.
This scarce map is filled with place names along the coastlines, an uncommon feature for a map of this region in the mid-sixteenth century. The map was published by Jean Bellere, a Dutch printer and publisher, and first appeared in Lopez de Gomara's La Historia General de las Indias in 1554. The detail in North America was derived from the explorations of Ayllon, Gomes and Fagundes. Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon was a Spanish explorer who initiated the first European attempt to establish a settlement in the area now known as the United States. In 1526 Ayllon established the colony of San Miguel de Gualdape in what is believed to be either present-day Georgia or South Carolina. Ayllon died in the settlement, which lasted only a few months due to a scarcity of… Read More

FIRST EDITION, engraved frontispiece and 25 engraved plates, most by J. Basire after W. Jett and J. Nicholls., title in red and black, woodcut device, contemporary speckled calf, twice ruled in gilt, spine gilt with fleurons, red morocco label, hinges and cornes expertly repaired, last two leaves repaired, folio, London, for J. Janeway, 1734
FIRST EDITION OF THIS FAMOUS COMPILATION, uniting the most notorious names in the early eighteenth-century underworld. It consists of selections from two works, Alexander Smith's History of the Lives of the Most Noted Highway-men and Captain Charles Johnson's own General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pirates. Captain Johnson is attributed with creating the modern conception of pirates. He provided a sweeping account of what came to be called the Golden Age of Piracy. He gave an almost mythical status to the more colourful pirates such as Edward 'Blackbeard' Teach, 'Calico' Jack Rackham, and the female pirates Mary Read and Anne Bonny.… Read More

Autograph letter, 2pp., folded, signed "G. Johnstone" to Sir David Dundas, contemporary ink stain not affecting text, marginal toning, 17 September, 1774
The autograph letter from George Johnstone, the Director of the East India Company, regarding George Vansittart (1745-1825) "quitting the service of the East India Company". The letter goes on to discuss Warren Hastings, the Treaty of Banaras and reformations. Beginning with a politically motivated embezzlement:"You will now judge what reformations are likely to take place under such a General who in a very inferior station cut out with 100,000£ and endeavoured to support evidence on the reform action attempted by General Claverings besides furthering by his own confession in a manner so very unworthy a public officer…". General Clavering was appointed Commander in Chief in India in 1774, shortly after Warren Hastings was appointed Governor General. By the 1770s Hastings had already made many political enemies in the East India Company. The… Read More