ENGLISH ATLAS, Tome the First - AFRICA: being an Accurate Description of the regions of Aegypt, Barbary, Lybia, and Billedulgerid, the land of Negroes, Guinee, Aethiopia, and the Abyssines, with all the adjacent islands, either in the Mediterranean, Atlantick, Southern, or Oriental Sea, belonging thereunto. With the several denominations of their coasts, harbors, creeks, rivers, lakes, cities, towns, castles, and villages. Their customs, modes, and manners, languages, religions, and inexhaustible treasure; with their governments and policy, variety of trade and barter, and also of their wonderful plants, beasts, birds and serpents. Collected and translated from most authentick authors, and augmented with later observations; illustrated with notes, and adorn'd with peculiar maps, and proper sculptures, by John Ogilby, Esq; Master of His Majesties revels in the Kingdom of Ireland. by Ogilby, John (1600-1676) - 1670 from signed Preface

London: Printed by Tho. Johnson for the author, and are to be had at his house in White Fryers. First edition., 1670 from signed Preface. Hardcover. Fair. Full-page emblematic copperplate frontis of AFRICA with black figures, camel, crocodile & lion + full-page plate of Egyptian Mummies + 46 copper engravings in text, but LACKS all 53 engraved plates & maps inserted on tabs in other copies of first edition.. Folio near-contemporary blind-tooled leather-covered boards, 19th century spine reback (recently repaired) in leather on raised bands with gilt rules, tips worn, leather on boards scuffed). Bookplate T.D. Bland Esqr. Kippax Park and earlier name Ri: Proctor on pastedown. Half title as required in 1st edition "ENGLISH ATLAS Tome the First", original printed Title lacking (supplied in colour facsimile tipped in), [xii]pp (Dedication to Charles II, Preface signed "John Ogilby From my House in White Fryers, April 28, 1670", Royal Licence dated 1669, Catalogue of Authors Consulted) + 767pp + [1]p (Directions for placing the Maps and Sculps) + [18]pp Tables listing all the Regions of AFRICA and the ISLANDS, but LACKS all 53 engraved plates & maps inserted on tabs in other copies of first edition. Text pages collated complete except for printed Title, a few loose pages reinserted to align properly within covers. *Ogilby's White Friars house (as mentioned in Preface) was destroyed in 1666 Great Fire of London. After rebuilding, Ogilby set up a printing press there from which he issued several magnificent books, starting with the "English Atlas" series of which this is the first volume. In 1674 he was appointed Cosmographer and Geographic Printer to His Majesty, but lived for only 2 years more to enjoy the appointment (referenced by Wing O163, ESTC R22824). NB very large heavy book - extra charges for shipping.