Sir Walter Raleigh: Discoverie of Guiana

London: Robert Robinson, 1596 (Sp Coll Hunterian Cp.3.29)

 Line of text from 'The Discoverie of Guiana'.

In 1595, Sir Walter Raleigh sailed for South America seeking out the fabled city of El Dorado. The following year, he wrote The Discoverie of Guiana in an attempt to persuade others of the potential of this fertile and unspoilt land.

This is a copy of the first edition, bearing an ownership inscription on the front flyleaf dated 1677. The binding is probably contemporary, made from cheap, limp vellum with the title added in manuscript to the spine.

Title and author added to spine in manuscript. Contemporary frontbinding of Sir Walter Raleigh's 'The Discoverie of Guiana' held by University of Glasgow Library Special Collections.

Also by Sir Walter Raleigh and held by Special Collections:

The History of the World (1614) Sp Coll BG46-a.5
A declaration of the demeanor and carriage of Sir Walter Raleigh, Knight... (1618) Sp Coll BD1-c.96
The prerogatiue of parliamentsin England... (1628) Sp Coll Bh5-h.9
The historie of the world... (1634) Sp Coll Eadie f2
The prince, or maxims of state (1642) Sp Coll Mu16-i.11
Judicious and select essayes and obsevations... (1650) Sp Coll BD1-k.6

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More images from this book

  • Ownership inscription on front flyleaf.
  • Title page of 'The Discoverie of Guiana'.
  • First page with woodcut initial.
  • Double page opening showing example of use of italics in text.