"A report of the kingdome of Congo, a region of Africa And of the countries that border rounde about the same" - 1597 - John Wolfe

"A report of the kingdome of Congo, a region of Africa And of the countries that border rounde about the same"

-Printed in London, John Wolfe, 1597

-Translated by Abraham Hartwell

-pp. [20], 215, [3]: [fleuron]⁴, *⁴, 2*², A-2E⁴ (Lacking 2 blank leaves: 2*2 and A1 )

-10 full page woodblock illustrations including the first English image of a Zebra and an early depiction of a banana tree.

-Two Maps not present

-18th Century Calf (rebacked) with marbled end papers

This is the rare english translation of Lopez's voyage to Africa by Pigafetta, first published in Italian in 1591. Hartwell was encouraged to translate Lopez's account of Africa after meeting Richard Hakluyt doing so "to help our English nation, that they might knowe and understand many things, which are common in other languages, but utterly concealed from this poore island".

The work described the journey of Duarte lopez though the Congo in 1578 to 1584. Lopes met Pigafetta in Rome after his return in the late 1580s, and subsequently published the work and maps. De Bry produced this edition as part one of his famous Petits voyages.

Lopez was a Portuguese trader who travelled around what is now Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was appointed ambassador to Spain for the king of Congo and sought to trade in Gold and precious metals, while brining Christianity to Africa. 

USTC: 513428