The Naturall and Morall Historie of the East and West Indies.

In an attractive contemporary binding

First edition in English of "the most convincing, detailed, and reliable account" of the Americas at this time, in a notably attractive contemporary binding (Hill). While this influential work is well-held institutionally it is scarce in commerce, and especially so in a contemporary binding, with only five such copies appearing at auction in the last thirty years.

Acosta's De Natura Novi Orbis was first published in Salamanca in 1588, and expanded in 1590 under the title Historia Natural y Moral de las Indias. The translation into English is commonly attributed to prolific translator and historian Edward Grimeston (d. 1640). Acosta's work "is one of the most important contributions to Spanish scientific thought and made an immediate impact in Spain, where the educated elite was eager for information about the American colonies", consequently "six editions were published within three years of its appearance" (Speake, p. 2). Based on Acosta's church commissioned expeditions during 17 years as a Jesuit missionary in the Americas, this work provides "a more thoughtful and a more thorough account of the Indian world than anything then available" (Pagden, p. 149). While the first four parts of the work demonstrate Acosta's keen observational eye as a natural scientist, the fifth and sixth parts discussing 'moral matters' have "led some critics to identify Acosta as an important precursor of anthropology and ethnography" (Speake, p. 2). Thomas Streeter remarks that Acosta's provision of "great detail in his descriptions of sailing directions, mineral wealth, trading commodities, and Indian history operated more strongly than any other in opening the eyes of the rest of Europe to the great wealth that Spain was drawing from America" (Streeter).

This copy has an 18th-century ownership inscription: "ex libris de Horsey" on the title page, with 26 marginal manuscript annotations in the same hand, dated 1726, commenting on the text and acutely reflecting contemporary interests. By a section discussing the use and merits of tobacco, for example, the owner has noted that "the vertues of tobacco are not worth a fart", and has neatly illustrated the section discussing bezoars, a prized object in many 18th-century cabinets of curiousities.

This copy is in the printing variant without "R. F." to the title page, with no priority given between the two states.