Fifth Book of the Most Pleasant and Delectable History of Amadis de Gaule: Containing the first part of the most strange, valiant, and worthy acts of Esplandian son to Amadis de Gaule: as his strange sayling in the Great Serpent, the winning of his sword, the conques of the castle of the defended mountain: his warres with Armato

London: Printed by T[homas]. J[ohnson], 1664. The Origin of the Name California

[LOBEIRA, Joâo de]. The Fifth Book of the Most Pleasant and Delectable History of Amadis de Gaule. Containing the first part of the most strange, valiant, and worthy acts of Esplandian son to Amadis de Gaule: as his strange sayling in the Great Serpent, the winning of his sword, the conques of the castle of the defended mountain: his warres with Armato King of Turky, his love to Leonorine daughter to the Emperor of Constantinople, with divers services done in her behalf. The besieging of Constantinople by the Turks and pagans, with their overthrow by the princes: his marriage with Leonorine, his investing in the empire of Greece. And lastly, his inchantment with divers other princes in the pallace of Apollidon devised by Urganda. London: Printed by T[homas]. J[ohnson]., 1664.

First edition in English. Small quarto (7 x 5 1/4 inches; 176 x 133 mm). 136 leaves. A translation of "El libro primero de las sergas del muy esforçado cavallero Esplandian hijo del excelente rey Amadís de Gaula." by Montalvo. According to Wing, Vasco de Lobeira and also attributed to Joâo de Lobeira. Title-page within an ornamental border. We could find no other copy of this edition on ABPC or Rare Book Hub. The word "Californie" is found on the recto of leaf Ll3. This story includes an episode involving female warriors from an island called "Californie."

Beautifully bound by F. Bedford in full red morocco. Boards triple-ruled in gilt. Board edges double ruled in gilt. Spine stamped and lettered in gilt. Gilt dentelles. Marbled endpapers. A few leaves with near invisible fore-edge repairs including leaves K, L2, Gg2, and Ll2, not affecting text. Leaf B2 repaired at top edges, not affecting text. With two previous owner's bookplates on front paste down, Kenneth Rapoport and Jacobi P.R. Lyell. Description of book typed on paper, tipped in on front free endpaper. Overall a near fine copy.

"After rewriting the four books of Amadís de Gaula, Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo wrote the bestseller Sergas de Esplandian (Exploits of Esplandián), published in 1510, which recounts the deeds of Amadis's son. It includes an episode involving female warriors from an island named California, and eventually explorers used that name for a region in the Americas." (Sue Burke- Amadisofgaul (dot) blogspot (dot) com).

"Amadis de Gaula (Amadis of Gaul) is a famous prose romance of chivalry, first composed in Spain or Portugal and most likely based on French sources. An early version of the work probably existed by the late 13th century or early 14th century. A version in three books, of which brief fragments are extant, can be dated around 1420. Garci Rodriguez de Montalvo, ruler of Medina del Campo, reworked that version, added a fourth book, and continued with a fifth, entitled Las sergas de Esplandian (The adventures of Esplandian). The work remained popular during the Spanish Golden Age in both Europe and America, with 19 Spanish editions published in the 16th century. (Library of Congress).

HBS 68736.

$15,000.