Kemys [or Keymis], Lawrence

FIRST EDITION, small 4to (176 x 125mm.), [viii], [48] pp., title with woodcut headpiece and device, woodcut coat of arms on verso, dark red morocco by J. Kulesho, gilt edges, title restored, title and following three leaves repaired just affecting text

sale in these rooms (Bibliotheca Phillippica, new series, eleventh part), 24 June 1974, lot 2660; resold in these rooms 25 November 1982, lot 212

Church 250; Sabin 37686; STC 14947

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

VERY RARE. WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO TRACE ANY OTHER COMPLETE COPY AT AUCTION SINCE ONE IN 1917.

“The author of this Relation was a sea-captain who accompanied Sir Walter Raleigh in his voyage up the Orinoco in 1595. Raleigh, being unable to go himself the next year, sent Keymis to continue the explorations. He was imprisoned with Raleigh in the Tower, in 1603, and being his pilot and captain, was frequently examined in hopes that something might be extracted from him to compromise his master.

This is called the Second Voyage because Raleigh’s own, made in 1595, which was in fact the first, was not published until this same year. Castellanos, from whose work Keymis extracted the names of ‘worthie Spaniardes’, wrote a versified history of the discovery of America, which was published at Madrid, in 1589, in which he recounted the deeds of heroism performed by Spanish leaders during the first sixty years of American discovery” (Church).