The Four Years Voyages of Capt. George Roberts; Being a Series of Uncommon Events Which befell him in a Voyage to the Islands of the Canaries, Cape de Verde, and Barbadoes, from whence he was bound to the Coast of Guiney… being taken by Three Pyrate Ships, commanded by Low, Russell and Spriggs…

FIRST EDITION, [6], 458p.[1], folding engraved map of Cape Verde Island, 4 engraved plates, occasional light staining, bookplate of Raymond J Schweizer to pastedown, rebacked, contemporary full calf boards, new endpapers, edges stained red, 8vo, London, A. Bettesworth, 1726.

The Four Year Voyage of Capt. George Roberts is a first-person account of a nautical adventure that easily divides into three segments: (1) a trading voyage from London to the West Indies and Roberts’ capture by the infamous Ned Low and his pirate crew; (2) a tale of shipwreck and survival among the Cape Verde Islands; and (3) a cursory description of the dozen islands making up the Cape Verde chain.

This work, written by Captain George Roberts, is sometimes attributed to Daniel Defoe. In the “British Museum Catalogue,” this work is attributed to Defoe. However, multiple studies have questioned this opinion, notably the “Dictionary of National Biography,” which notes that Defoe never mentions George Roberts in any of his works. National Biography also argues that “no reason can be alleged for doubting the existence of Roberts or the substantial truth of the narrative.” (776)

An exceptional copy of this scarce work.

[ESTC:T56902; Moore, 483; Sabin, 71888]