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LODEWIJCKSZ, Willem (16th century). Premier Livre de l'histoire de la navigation aux indes orientales, par les Hollandois. Amsterdam: Cornelius Nicolaius, 1598.
LODEWIJCKSZ, Willem (16th century). Premier Livre de l'histoire de la navigation aux indes orientales, par les Hollandois. Amsterdam: Cornelius Nicolaius, 1598. 2 o (342 x 242 mm). Large engraved map on title, 47 engraved maps and plates in text and one plate of coins, woodcut coastal profiles in text. (Some margins renewed, a few illustrations reinforced along plate margin.) Late 19th-century vellum. FIRST EDITION IN FRENCH of the classic account of the first Dutch voyage to the East Indies under the command of Cornelis de Houtman. the expedition left in 1595, after Holland had acheived independence from Spain and could therefore freely explore its own interests in the East. The ships sailed across the Atlantic to Brazil, and rounded the Cape of Good Hope on 7 February 1595. They arrived in Sumatra in May 1596 and proceeded to Java with the intention of reaching the Moluccas. The ships were unseaworthy, however, and troubles arouse between captains and crew. Finally reaching an accord, they sailed to Bali and returned to Texel in August 1597, with only eighty-nine of the crew left alive. Because of the increased price of pepper, the voyage was able to turn a profit, despite returning with a small cargo. Adams L-1397; Alden and Landis 598/59; Howgego H105; JCB (3) I:364.