A Discourse and Discovery of New-found-land, with many reasons to proove how worthy and beneficiall a Plantation may there be made, after a better manner than it was. Together with the Laying open of certain enormities and abuses committed by some that trade to that Countrey, and the means laid down for reformation thereof. Written by Captaine Richard Whitbourne of Exmouth, in the County of Deuon and published by Authority. As also a louing Inuitation: and likewise the copies of certaine Letters sent from that Countrey; which are printed in the latter part of this Booke

Imprinted at London by Felix Kingston, 1623. (in 8's)., 17.2cm, Third edition. [xiv],97,[5],15p., wanting A2, which lists some of his sponsors, closely cropped, affecting several running-titles, side-notes, and page numbers, in full calf rebacked, with early spine relayed, raised bands, full gilt decorations in the panels, crushed crimson morocco labels, gilt ruled borders on the boards, gilt decorated wide inner dentelles, French marbled endpapers, inner linen hinges, all edges gilt, some rubbed on the original spine edges, upper outer hinge shaken, first leaf darkened (by something once laid in?) ~ with the bookplates of Boies Penrose, and his nephew Boies Penrose II; signed binding "Bound by Bedford for H. Stevens". A very good copy of a very rare book.(cgc). HUB lists only 2 copies, 1960 and 1859. A third copy was seriously defective. JCB II, p182, (commenting that the JCB and the Huntingdon copies, lack part of sig. A); we located another copy listed on Worldcat that was also missing leaf A2 which might indicate that is was removed by the publisher. This one is cleanly cut not pulled out. O'Dea 51c. "... Three editions of a very rare tract to induce settlement in Newfoundland by one who journeyed to and from the island for many years. ... Lande 895. Whitbourne first saw Newfoundland about 1580 and was present when Sir Humphrey Gilbert claimed it for Queen Elizabeth a few years later. He travelled there frequently in after years. In 1615 he arrived with a commission to hold courts of vice-admiralty; this was the first attempt to institute legal process in the country and is described here. He give details on the island, urges its settlement, and discusses offenses committed by the seasonal fisherman. The book was reprinted twice and was the first major source in English on the subject. It pleased James I, to whom it was dedicated, and was undoubtedly influential in winning Sir Richard his knighthood. It is also well-known for the final paragraph describing the sighting of a "Mermaide" at St. John's in 1610. Church Catalogue, 383 - "Written by the Father of New-found-land'... hears the same relation to that colony that the works of Champain do to New France". Sabin 103332. see (25372 - 25375a8) for a detailed description of various copies, issues. He points out that there are two issues, based on some differences in the wording of the running-titles; this would be his "issue B" as opposed to "issue A". This edition not located in TPL nor in Church. Harrisse, p71. Windsor 8:18. O'Flaherty. The Rock Observed p4 & 12. Whitbourne, sailor and merchant and, later, colonizer and governor of Newfoundland, made many voyages to and from the island, beginning in 1579. By 1618 he had become governor of the first settlers sent out by William Vaughan, the original land speculator in Newfoundland, and remained there until 1620. "Whitbourne's works are a unique contribution to the early literature on Newfoundland. Their purpose was always to stimulate interest in the island and, particularly, to promote its settlement as profitable both to the individual and to the nation. But their uniqueness lies not in their purpose but in their content; For his contemporaries he provided a wealth of detail on the geography, climate, and resources of the island, besides practical advice on settlement and the fishery ..." (DCB I, pp. 668-669). "A volume of great rarity, having for Newfoundland the same importance as the works of Champlain for New F rance" -(trans. from Gagnon). The Letter from Captaine Edward Wynne [and others], written from Newfoundland, gives the only extant account of Avalon, the colony founded by George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, which was abandoned in 1629 in favour of Maryland.