The Spanish Empire in America – John Campbell – 1747 | First Edition, Colonial Trade and Conquest

This 1747 first edition printing of The Spanish Empire in America is an early English-language analysis of Spanish colonial trade and territorial operations in the New World. Published anonymously under the pseudonym “An English Merchant” and attributed to John Campbell, this account was issued in London during a period of ongoing rivalry between Britain and Spain. It covers sanctioned trade systems such as the Galleons and Flota, as well as unauthorized trade with English, Dutch, French, Danish, and Portuguese interests.

The book opens with a chronological overview of Spanish exploration and conquest. Campbell discusses Columbus’s expeditions, John Cabot’s early claims, and Magellan’s route through the Straits. Separate chapters address the conquest of Mexico under Cortez and the campaigns in Peru, followed by descriptions of California, Florida, New Mexico, and South America. Each chapter focuses on one region or historical development. Later sections examine Spanish administrative divisions, including the Audiences of Mexico, Panama, Lima, and Buenos Aires. The third and final book shifts to commercial matters. It outlines the structure of trade between Spain and its colonies, the movement of bullion, and smuggling practices across the West Indies. An appendix at the end contains a short account of Paraguay.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Spanish Empire in America. Containing, a Succinct Relation of the Discovery and Settlement of its several Colonies; a View of their respective Situations, Extent, Commodities, Trade, etc. And a full and clear Account of the Commerce with Old Spain by the Galleons, Flota, etc. Also of the Contraband Trade with the English, Dutch, French, Danes, and Portuguese. With an exact Description of Paraguay.
• Author(s): John Campbell (as “An English Merchant”)
• Publisher: London, Printed for M. Cooper in Pater-noster Row
• Edition: First Edition, 1747
• Format: Octavo, single volume
• Binding: Quarter leather, marbled boards
• Size: ~ 8.25 x 5.5 in (21 x 14 cm)
• Collation: viii, [4], 330, [2] pp
  • Binding error: prefatory pages, vii-viii, bound out of order, but all present
• Contents Include:
  • Voyages of Columbus, Cabot, and Magellan
  • Cortez’s conquest of Mexico
  • History of Peru and colonial unrest
  • Descriptions of California, Florida, New Mexico, and South America
  • Administrative divisions including Audiences of Mexico, Lima, Panama, Quito, and others
  • Chapters on Spanish trade systems, bullion transport, and smuggling
  • Appendix on Paraguay
• Provenance: Bookplate of C. Cruz Montt to front pastedown
  • Carlos Cruz Montt (1879-1955), a member of the prominent Chilean Montt family, was an esteemed Chilean architect and art collector whose art collection is currently in the care of the British Museum.
• References: Sabin 10225
• Condition:

  Bound in quarter leather with marbled boards. The spine includes raised bands and gilt lines, now age-darkened. Wear is visible at corners and edges, and hinges are rubbed. Internally, the contents are complete, printed on laid paper with ample margins. Note: Leaves vii–viii are misbound into the body of the text, an original binder’s irregularity.

   

  Why Collect This?

  • Fascinating narrative regarding both legal and illicit trade!
  • First edition attributed to John Campbell, pre-dating later Enlightenment colonial surveys
  • Contains early English-language narratives of Cortez, Columbus, and Magellan
  • Covers Florida and California at a time when English texts rarely addressed them
  • Appeals to collectors of 18th-century colonial history and British-Spanish relations