A very fine textual example of a tour de force of 18th century engraving in an exceptional state of preservation. The volume, often both worn and robbed of its choicest engravings. This one has apparently been kept under lock and key!

The volume contains narratives of the voyages and relations of experiences by travelers from the time of the Portuguese navigators to the middle of the eighteenth century, including those of Magellan, Drake, Cavendish, Olivier van Noort, William Dampier, Woodes Rogers, John Clipperton, George Anson, and Lionel Wafer.

This example somewhat extra-illustrated, including all 9 maps [including the oft-pilfered folding map] all 54 engravings called for, and a few not called out in the illustration list, but still bearing the printer's indication of being produced for the volume. 

Engravings include: Ceremony of a Negro Funeral at Pholey Town Plantation; The Manner of Negro Espousals; Morning Salutation of the People of Guinea; Map of Africa; Muley Abdullah - Emperor of Morocco - Ordering the Massacre of 355 of His Own Subjects; Various Habits of the Chinese and Tartars; The Famous Water Castle at Canton, China; Hottentots Attacking Wild Beasts; Christopher Columbus Presenting an Account of His Travels to the King and Queen of Spain; Indians [American] Astonished at the Eclipse of the Moon; Women Expecting Death at the Hands of Dutch Sailors who had Murdered their Husbands; Captain Rogers's People Stripping the Ladies Near Guiaquil; Landing of Captain Rogers's Men at California; Sir Walter Raleigh Setting Five Indian Kings at Liberty; Inhabitants of North American - Near Hudson Bay; Map of North America; etc. 

Drake, Edward Cavendish. A New Universal Collection of Authentic and Entertaining Voyages and Travels, From the Earliest Accounts to the Present Time. Judiciously Selected From the Best Writers in the English, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, German, Danish, and Other Languages. Comprehending and Account of Whatever is Curious in the Government, Commerce, Natural History, Customs, Marriages, Funerals, and Other Ceremonies of Most Nations in the Known World. Including and Account of the Most Remarkable Discoveries, Conquests, Settlements, Battles, Sea Fights, Hurricanes, Shipwrecks, Sieges, Tortures, Wonderful Escapes, Massacres, and Strange Discoveries, Both by Sea and Land. Aslo A Description of the Buildings, Mountains, Rivers, Harbours, Lakes, Islands, Peninsulas, Creeks, &c. of Various Countries. The Whole Forming a History of Whatever is Most Worthy of Notice in Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Illustrated with Maps from the Latest Improvements, and Beautiful Plates, by Grignion, and Other Celebrated Masters. London. Printed for J. Cooke, at Shakespear's Head. 1768. 706pp.

A good + copy, bound in leather that is rubbed, through at corners and at various points of extremities; hinges breached but boards held rather solidly by cords. Text block is generally solid, with the blank ffep detached. Pages superbly and unusually crisp. An excellent example.