Regnum Congo. Vera Descriptio Regni Africani, Quod Tam Abincolis Quam Lusitanis Congus appellatur….: Pigafetta's report of the Kingdom of Congo
by PIGAFETTA, FILIPPO
- Used
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
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CHELTENHAM, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
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About This Item
Frankfurt, Wolfgang Richter, 1598, folio (300 x 200mm), crushed Morocco gilt by Pratt, with Engraved Title-Page, Engraved Arms of Frederick IV, 2 folding engraved maps on 3 sheets and 14 half page engraved plates.
Pigafetta's report of the Kingdom of Congo and of the Surrounding Countries, 1591 was translated into English, Latin (as Regnum Congo), French, Dutch, and German.
In it Pigafetta explains that he was ordered by Pope Sixtus V to transcribe the account of Duarte Lopez, a Portuguese trader who had spent twelve years in the Congo. Lopez's narrative gives a detailed account of his voyage on his uncle's ship, and the history and geography of the kingdom of Congo and its six administrative regions under the rule of its king (named by Lopez 'Don Alvarez'). The account demonstrates the extent of Portuguese exploration across West Africa in the sixteenth century, of which later explorers were unaware
Duarte Lopes travelled within central Africa, in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola, starting in 1578. After several successful merchant voyages, Lopes was appointed as ambassador for Congo's king, Alvaro II, to Spain (which was then unified with Portugal). Lopes replaced Sebastian da Costa, who had died on his return trip to report to Philip II of Spain.
While ambassador, Lopes sought out mineral specimens to share with his European contacts in the hope they would yield gold, silver, or another precious metal. He also opened the region to trade with Portugal and Spain, a major advantage for the vast Spanish Empire. Finally, Lopes vowed to lobby the Pope to send missionaries to Central Africa.
On his return trip from Congo, Lopes was shipwrecked on the coast of Venezuela. After a year marooned there, he returned to Europe to continue to fight for his causes, although the calls went unheeded. He returned to Congo in 1589 and was never heard from again.
Before he disappeared, however, Lopes told Filippo Pigafetta (ca. 1533-1604) the story of his travels and gave him a single manuscript map. Pigafetta was a historian who traveled extensively. He also served as a Chamberlain to Pope Sextus, a position that would give him access to information and a certain measure of power in Roman society.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Bruce Marshall Rare Books (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 600
- Title
- Regnum Congo. Vera Descriptio Regni Africani, Quod Tam Abincolis Quam Lusitanis Congus appellatur….
- Author
- PIGAFETTA, FILIPPO
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- Wolfgang Richter
- Place of Publication
- Frankfurt
- Date Published
- 1598
- Size
- folio (300 x200m)
- Weight
- 0.00 lbs
- Keywords
- pigafetta, africa, central, spanish empire, west africa
Terms of Sale
Bruce Marshall Rare Books
About the Seller
Bruce Marshall Rare Books
About Bruce Marshall Rare Books
Our particular specialities are fine natural history books, atlases & cartography, voyages & discovery, early illustrated books, important books in the history of science and astronomy, fine works from the Kelmscott Press, old engravings and photographs.
The books and manuscripts listed here are a selection of our stock.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Folio
- A folio usually indicates a large book size of 15" in height or larger when used in the context of a book description. Further,...
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