Histoire Naturelle des Indes. The Drake Manuscript in The Pierpont Morgan Library.

New York: W.W. Norton & Co., (1996),

First Edition. Preface by Charles E. Peirce, Jr.; Foreword by Patrick O'Brian; Introduction by Verlyn Klinkenborg. quarto, cloth in dust jacket. xxiv), 272pp. W.W. Norton & Co., Very fine copy. Item #11996

Late in the 16th century, Spaniards had already begun to exert influence over the indigenous people of the Caribbean when explorers from England and France arived, among them Sir Francis Drake. "The Drake Manuscript," and titled Histoire Naturelle des Indes when it was bound in the 18th century, gives us a wonderful picture of daily life at the time of Drakes' many visits to the region. The beautiful paintings and descriptions document the plant, animal and human life of the Caribbean. Although Drake' s connection to the manuscript is uncertain, he is mentioned on more than one occasion by the authors. All of the drawings and their captions are presented here in a facsimile edition of the manuscript for the first time. A very fine copy in a very fine dust jacket.

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