The Discoverie of the Large and Bewtiful Empire of Guiana – First Limited Edition (Argonaut Press, 1928), No. 124 of 975 Copies

This is a rare first limited edition of Sir Walter Raleigh’s The Discoverie of the Large and Bewtiful Empire of Guiana, issued by the Argonaut Press in 1928, with only 975 copies printed. This copy is hand-numbered 124.

Originally written in 1596, Raleigh’s account details his expedition to Guiana in search of El Dorado. While it is a landmark work in the history of exploration and early European engagement with South America, it is also a colonial text, reflecting the ambitions and attitudes of its time. The writing must be understood within the context of European colonial expansion, a period marked by conquest and exploitation.

Despite its origins in a darker chapter of history, the work remains a valuable historical document, offering insight into the mindset of Elizabethan exploration, early encounters with the Americas, and the narratives that shaped colonial ambitions. Collectors prize this Argonaut Press edition both for its fine press qualities and its significance in the history of exploration literature.