Travel Literature

Circumnavigation & Intercontinental Travel

As Europeans developed the means to travel the world's oceans and waterways, they found the allure of exploration irresistible. Some of the most famous travelers, including William Lithgow, William Dampier, and James Cook, made it their business to not only travel to one far-off locale, but to journey around the entire world. The reasons for doing so were numerous: initially such voyages were undertaken in order to map and systematize the unknown, to learn about non-European lands, and to expand trade routes. Simon de Vries presented his observations of the non-western world in the seventeenth-century as "Curieuse aenmerckingen". Traveling around the world was really only a possibility for certain scientists, explorers, and of course sailors, until the development of wide-spread tourism in the eighteenth-century. Even then, however, intercontinental leisure travel was almost exclusively undertaken and written about by ambassadors, their families, and royalty. The writings of privileged travelers such as Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, and Prince Adalbert of Prussia were published for the edification and entertainment of those back at home. By the mid nineteenth-century the experience of traveling around the world could be vividly imagined thanks to such texts, and aided furthermore by richly illustrated books like Adolphe Laurent Joanne's Voyage illustré dans les cinq parties du monde en 1846, 1847, 1848, 1849.

An Account of several late voyages & discoveries to the South and North … By Sir John Narborough, Captain Jasmen Tasman, Captain John Wood, and Frederick Marten… towards the Streights of Magellan, the South Seas, the vast tracts of land beyond Hollandia Nova &c. : also towards Nova Zembla, Greenland or Spitsberg, Groynland or Engrondland, &c.
London: Printed for S. Smith and B. Walford, 1694.
910.8 Ac2
(unillustrated)

Acosta, José de, 1540-1600.
The natvrall and morall historie of the East and West Indies: Intreating of the remarkeable things of heaven, of the elements, metalls, plants and beasts which are proper to that country: together with the manners, ceremonies, lawes, governements, and warres of the Indians / Written in Spanish by Ioseph Acosta, and translated into English by E. G.
London: printed by V. Sims for E. Blount and W. Aspley, 1604.
Dillingham E141 .A25 1604

Adalbert, Prinz von Preussen, 1811-1873.
Travels of his royal highness Prince Adalbert of Prussia, in the south of Europe and in Brazil: with a voyage up the Amazon and the Xingú / Translated by Sir Robert H. Schomburgk and John Edward Taylor.
London : D. Bogue, 1849.
918.1 Ad12t v. 1-2

Anderson, George William, fl. 1784, ed.
A new, authentic, and complete collection of voyages round the world, undertaken and performed by Royal authority: Containing an authentic, entertaining, full, and complete history of Captain Cook's first, second, third and last voyages ... To which will be added, genuine narratives of other voyages of discovery round the world ... The whole of these Voyages of Capt. Cook ... / Now publishing under the immediate direction of George William Anderson, esq. Assisted by a principal officer who sailed in the Resolution sloop, and by many other gentlemen.
London: Printed for the Proprietors, and Published by Alex. Hogg ..., [1784].
ff G420.C62 A5 1784

An Authentic account of Commodore Anson's expedition: containing all that was remarkable, curious and entertaining, during that long and dangerous voyage…: taken from a private journal. {With: An Affecting narrative of the unfortunate voyage and catastrophe of His Majesty's ship Wager; [London?]: Printed for John Norwood, 1751}.
London: Printed for M. Cooper, 1744.
G530.W25 A44 1751

Avril, Philippe, 1654-1698.
Voyage en divers etats d'Europe et d'Asie: entrepris pour découvrir un nouveau chemin à la Chine: contenant plusieurs remarques curieuses de physique, de geographie, d'hydrographie & d'histoire: avec une description de la grande Tartarie, & des differens peuples qui l'habitent.
Paris: Chez Claude Barbin, Jean Boudot, George & Louis Josse, 1692.
G490 .A96 1692

Bougainville, Louis-Antoine de, comte, 1729-1811.
Voyage autour du monde, par le frégate du roi la Boudeuse, et la flûte l'Étoile: en 1766, 1767, 1768 & 1769.
Paris: Chez Saillant & Nyon, 1772.
910.4 B66 v. 1-2
(maps)

Clarke, Edward Daniel, 1769-1822.
Travels in various countries of Europe, Asia and Africa.
London : T. Cadell & W. Davies, 1811-23.
Uncat 9209 v. 1-4

Cook, James, 1728-1779.
A voyage towards the South Pole and round the world, performed in His Majesty's ships the Resolution and Adventure in the years 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775, written by James Cook, in which is included, Captain Furneaux's narrative of his proceedings in the Adventure during the separation of the ships; illustrated with maps and charts and a variety of portraits of persons and views of places drawn during the voyage by Mr. Hodges and engraved by the most eminent masters.
London: Printed for W. Strahan & T. Cadell, 1777.
f G420 .C66 1777 v. 1-2
ff G420 .C66 1777 atlas
(extensively illustrated)

Cook, James, 1728-1779.
Voyages. The three voyages of Captain James Cook round the world.
London : Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1821.
G420.C62 C6 1821 v. 1-7

Dampier, William, 1652-1715.
Nouveau voyage autour du monde ... / enrichi de cartes & figures.
Rouen: Robert Machuel le jeune, 1715.
910.4 D18nF v. 1-5
(extensively illustrated)

Delano, Amasa, 1763-1823.
A narrative of voyages and travels in the northern and southern hemispheres: comprising three voyages round the world, together with a voyage of survey and discovery, in the Pacific Ocean and oriental islands.
Boston : Printed by E.G. House, for the author, 1818, c1817.
G440 .D33 1818

Froger, François, b. 1676.
Relation d'un voyage fait en 1695. 1696. & 1697. aux côtes d'Afrique, détroit de Magellan, Brezil, Cayenne & isles Antilles: par une escadre des vaisseaux du roy, commandée par M. de Gennes / faite par le sieur Froger…; enrichie de grande nombre de figures dessinées sur les lieux; imprimée par les soins & aux frais du sieur de Fer…
Paris: Dans l'Isle du Palais ... et chez G. Saugrain ..., 1698.
F2214 .F76 1698

Hamilton, George, surgeon.
A voyage round the world, in His Majesty's frigate Pandora: performed under the direction of Captain Edwards in the years 1790, 1791, and 1792 ...
Berwick: Printed by and for W. Phorson, 1793.
G440.P3 H3 1793

Hawkesworth, John, 1715?-1773.
An account of the voyages undertaken by the order of His present Majesty, for making discoveries in the southern hemisphere: and successively performed by Commodore Byron, Captain Wallis, Captain Carteret, and Captain Cook, in the Dolphin, the Swallow, and the Endeavour / drawn up from the journals which were kept by the several commanders, and from the papers of Joseph Banks, Esq., by John Hawkesworth; illustrated with elegant copper-plates.
Dublin: Printed by James Potts, 1775.
G420.C65 H3 1775b v. 1-2

Hawkesworth, John, 1715?-1773.
A new voyage round the world, in the years 1768, 1769, 1770, and 177: undertaken by order of his present Majesty, performed by Captain James Cook, in the ship Endeavour / drawn up from his own journal, and from the papers of Joseph Banks, esq. F.R.S., and published by the special direction of the Right Honourable the Lords of the Admiralty, by John Hawkesworth; with cutts and a map of the whole navigation.
New-York: Printed by James Rivington, 1774.
G420.C65 H32 1774 v. 1-2

Hawkesworth, John, 1715?-1773.
An account of the voyages undertaken by the order of His present Majesty for making discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere: and successively performed by Commodore Byron, Captain Wallis, Captain Carteret, and Captain Cook, in the Dolphin, the Swallow, and the Endeavor / drawn up from the journals which were kept by the several commanders, and from the papers of Joseph Banks, Esq., by John Hawkesworth; illustrated with cuts and a great variety of charts and maps relative to countries now first discovered or hitherto but imperfectly known.
London: Printed for W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1773.
f G420.C65 H3 1773 v. 1-3
(illustrated)

Joanne, Adolphe Laurent, 1813-1881.
Voyage illustré dans les cinq parties du monde en 1846, 1847, 1848, 1849; par Adolphe Joanne ... 663 gravures.
Paris, Aux Bureaux de l'Illustration [1850?]
f G463 .J62 1850
(extensively illustrated)

Lesconvel, Pierre de.
Relation historique & morale du voyage du prince de Montberavd dans l'Ile de Naudely ... / par l'autheur des Aventures de Thelemaque ..
Merinde, 1709.
843L626 R

Lettres dv Iappon, Perv, et Brasil, envoyees av R. P. general de la Societe de Iesus: par ceux de ladicte societe qui s'employent en ces regions, a la conuersion des gentils / Desdiees a Monsieur Chartier, seigneur d'Aleinville.
Paris: T. Brumen, 1578.
d BV2290.A2 L4 1578
(unillustrated)

Lever, Charles James, 1806-1872.
Arthur O'Leary : his wanderings and ponderings in many lands / edited by his friend, Harry Lorrequer, and illus. by George Cruikshank.
London : Colburn, 1845.
823 L57a

Lever, Charles James, 1806-1872.
Arthur O'Leary: his wanderings and ponderings in many lands / edited by his friend, Harry Lorrequer [i.e. C. J. Lever] and illustrated by George Cruikshank.
London : H. Colburn, 1844.
PR4884 .A7 1844 v. 1-3

Lithgow, William, 1582-1645?
Lithgow's nineteen years travels through the most eminent places in the habitable world: Containing an exact description of the customs, laws, religion, policies, and government of emperors, kings, and princes; also of the countries and cities, trades, rivers, and commerce in all places through which he travell'd…
London: Printed by J. Millet, for M. Wotton, 1692.
910 L71 Ed.1692
(illustrated)

Lithgow, William, 1582-1645?
The totall discourse, of the rare adventures, and painefull peregrinations of long nineteene yeares travailes from Scotland, to the most famous kingdomes in Europe, Asia, and Affrica: perfited by three deare bought voyages, in surveying of forty eight kingdomes ancient and modern, twenty one rei-publicks, ten absolute principalities, with two hundred islands ...
Imprinted at London: By I. Okes, 1640.
G460 .L58 1640

Lucas, Paul, 1664-1737.
Voyage du sieur Paul Lucas / fait par ordre du roi dans la Grece, l'Asie Mineure, la Macedoine et l'Afrique…
Amsterdam: Aux dépens de la Compagnie, 1714.
915.6 L96 v. 1-2
(illustrated)

Montagu, Mary Wortley, Lady, 1689-1762.
Letters of the Right Honourable Lady M--y W---y M-----e: written during her travels in Europe, Asia and Africa, to persons of distinction, men of letters, & c. in different parts of Europe.
London: Printed for T. Becket and P.A. De Hondt ... , 1763.
DA501.M7 A5 1763 v. 1-3

Montefiore, Judith Cohen, Lady, d. 1862.
Notes from a private journal of a visit to Egypt and Palestine, by way of Italy and the Mediterranean.
London, Printed by J. Rickerby, 1844.
DS107 .M75 1844

Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle, between the years 1826 and 1836: describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagle's circumnavigation of the globe.
London : H. Colburn, 1839.
F2936 .N37 1839 v. 1-2 (illustrated)
F2936 .N37 1839 v. 2 appendix (sparsely illustrated)
F2936 .N37 1839 v. 3 (unillustrated)

Ordoñez de Ceballos, b. 1550?
Viage del mvndo: Hecho y compvesto por el licenciado Pedro Ordoñez de Ceuallos.../ Contiene tres libros. Dirigido a don Antonio d'Avila y Toledo…
Madrid: Luis Sanchez, 1614.
G420 .O73 1614

Poivre, Pierre, 1719-1786.
Voyages d'un philosophe, ou, Observations sur les moers & les arts des peuples de l'Afrique, de l'Asie & de l'Amérique.
Maestricht : Chez Jean-Edme Dufour & Philippe Roux, 1779.
DS7 .P6 1779

Prévost, abbé, 1697-1763.
Voyages du capitaine Robert Lade en differentes parties de l'Afrique, de l'Asie et de l'Amerique: contenant l'histoire de sa fortune, &c ses observations sur les colonies & le commerce des espagnols, des anglois, des hollandois, &c. / ouvrage traduit de l'anglois.
Paris : Chez Didot, 1744.
G560 .P7 1744 v. 1-2

Ramusio, Giovanni Battista, 1485-1557.
Primo volume, & terza editione delle navigationi et viaggi, raccolto gia da m. Gio. Battista Ramvsio, & con molti & vaghi discorsi, da lui in molti luoghi dichiarato & illustrato. Nel qvale si contengono la descrittione dell'Africa, & del paese del Prete Ianni, con varij viaggi, dalla città di Lisbona, & dal mar Rosso insino à Calicut, & all'isole Molucche, doue nascono le spetierie, et la nauigatione attorno il mondo. Con la relatione dell'isola Giapan, scoperta nella parte del settentrione: et alcuni capitoli appartenenti alla geographia, estratti dell'historia del s. Giouan di Barros Portoghese. Con tre tavole di geographia in disegno, che hanno le marine, secondo le carte da nauigare de Portoghesi, & fra terra, secondo gli scrittori che hanno descritto li detti viaggi. Con due indici…
Venetia: Nella stamperia de Givnti, 1563.
f G159 .R21 1563
(unillustrated)

Ramusio, Giovanni Battista, 1485-1557.
Secondo volume delle navigationi et viaggi, raccolto gia da m. Gio. Battista Ramvsio, et mhora in qvesta nvova editione accrescivto; nel qvale si contengono l'historia delle cose de Tartari, & diuersi fatti de 'loro imperatori, descritta da m. Marco Polo gentil'huomo venetiano, & da Hayton Armeno. Varie descrittioni di diversi avttori, dell'Indie Orientali, della Tartaria, della Persia, Armenia, Mengrelia, Zorzania, & altre prouincie ... Et il viaggio della Tana. Con la descrittione de' nomi de' popoli, città, fiumi, & porti d'intorno al mar Maggiore ... & molte altre narrationi, cosi dello stato de' Moscouiti, Sciti, & Circassi, come d'altre genti barbare a gli antichi incognite. Et il naufragio di m. Pietro Quirino gentilhuomo venetiano, portato per fortuna settanta gradi sotto la tramontana. Aggiuntoui in questa vltima editione la descrittione dell'vna e dell'altra Sarmatia, con i successi in esse sino a tempi nostri occorsi…
Venetia: Appresso i Giunti, 1583.
f G159 .R22 1583
(unillustrated)

Ramusio, Giovanni Battista, 1485-1557.
Terzo volvme delle navigationi et viaggi, raccolto gia da m. Gio. Battista Ramvsio nel qvale si contengono le nauigationi al mondo nuouo, à gli antichi incognito, fatte da don Christoforo Colombo Genouese, che fu il primo à scoprirlo à i Re Catholici, detto hora l'Indie occidentali, con gl'acquisti fatti da lui, & accresciuti poi da Fernando Cortese, da Francesco Pizzarro & altri valorosi capitani, in diuerse parti delle dette Indie, in nome di Carlo V. imp. Con lo scoprire la gran città di Temistitan nel Mexico, doue hora è detto la Nvova Spagna, & la gran prouincia del Perù, il grandissimo fiume Maragnon, et altre città, regni, & prouincie. Le nauigationi fatte dipoi alle dette Indie, poste nella parte verso maestro tramontana dette hora la Nvova Francia, scoperte al Re Christianiss. La prima volta da Be rtoni & Normandi, et dipoi da Giouanni da Verrazzano Fiorentino & dal capitano Iacques Carthier…
Venetia: Nella stamperia de' Givnti, 1565.
f G159 .R23 1565
(unillustrated)

Relations veritables et curieuses de l'isle de Madagascar et du Bresil: Avec l'Histoire de la derniere guerre faite au Bresil, entre les Portugais & les Hollandois. Trois relations d'Egypte, & une du Royaume de Perse.
Paris : Augustin Courbé, 1651.
G159 .C85 1651

Reybaud, Louis, 1799-1879.
La Polynésie et les iles Marquises; voyages et marine, accompagnés d'un voyage en Abyssinie et d'un coup-d'oeil sur la canalisation de l'istheme de Panama.
Paris, Guillaumin, 1843.
DU510 .R45 1843
(unillustrated)

Sack, Albert, baron von.
A narrative of a voyage to Surinam, of a residence there during 1805, 1806, and 1807, and of the author's return to Europe by the way of North America.
London : Printed for G. and W. Nicol by W. Bulmer, 1810.
F2411 .S3213 1810

Shelvocke, George, fl. 1690-1728.
A voyage round the world by way of the great South Sea: perform'd in the years 1719, 20, 21, 22, in the Speedwell of London ... till she was cast away on the island of Juan Fernandes, in May 1720; and afterwards continu'd in the Recovery, The Jesus Maria and Sacra Familia, &c...
London: Printed for J. Senex, 1726.
910.4 Sh44v
(illustrated)

Sparrman, Anders, 1748-1820.
Voyage au Cap le Bonne-Espérance, et autour du monde avec le capitaine Cook, et principalement dans le pays des Hottentots et des Caffres / par André Sparrman; avec cartes, figures et planches en taille douce; traduit par M. Le Tourneur.
Paris : Chez Buisson, 1787.
DT826 .S714 1787 v. 1-2

Staunton, George, Sir, 1737-1801.
An authentic account of an embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China: including cursory observations made, and information obtained, in travelling through that ancient empire, and a small part of Chinese Tartary: together with a relation of the voyage undertaken on the occasion of His Majesty's ship the Lion, and the ship Hindostan, in the East India Company's service, to the Yellow Sea, and Gulf of Pekin; as well as of their return to Europe: with notices of the several places where they stopped in their way out and home; being the islands of Madeira, Teneriffe, and St. Jago; the port of Rio de Janeiro in South America; the islands of St. Helena, Tristan d'Acunha, and Amsterdam, the coast of Java, and Sumatra, the Nanka Isles, Pulo Condore, and Cochin-China / taken chiefly from the papers of His Excellency the Earl of Macartney ... Sir Erasmus Gower ... and of other gentlemen in the several departments of the embassy by Sir George Staunton ... ; in two volumes, with engravings; beside a folio volume of plates.
London : Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. : for G. Nicol, bookseller to His Majesty, Pall-Mall, 1797.
ff DS708 .S73 1797 v. atlas

Taylor, Isaac, 1759-1829.
Scenes in Africa and America: for the amusement and instruction of little tarry-at-home travellers.
London : John Harris, [1829], (London : S. and R. Bentley)
Uncat 12,796
(extensively illustrated)

Theobald, Mr. (Lewis), 1688-1744.
Memoirs of Sir Walter Raleigh.
London : Printed for W. Mears, 1719.
Uncat 8462

Victoria, Pedro Gobeo de, 1560?-1630?
Naufragio y peregrinacion. Joannis Bisselii, è societate Jesu, Argonauticon Americanorum, sive, Historiæ periculorum Petri de Victoria, ac sociorum eius, libri XV.
Monachii : Formis Lucæ Straubii, sumptibus Ioannis Wagneri bibliopolæ, 1647.
d E143 .V64 1647
(unillustrated, except for frontispiece)

Vries, S. de (Simon), b. 1630.
Curieuse aenmerckingen der bysonderste Oost en West-Indische verwonderens-waerdige dingen, nevens die van China, Africa, en andere gewesten des werelds ... / en uyt deselve in een bequaeme orde gebraght, oock soo met ondersoeckende als vergelijckende.
Utrecht: By J. Ribbius, 1682.
G159 .V98 1682 v. 1-4

Walter, Richard, 1716?-1785, comp.
A voyage round the world, in the years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV. By George Anson. Compiled from papers and other materials of the right honourable George Lord Anson, and published under his direction, by Richard Walter, M.A. Illustrated with forty-two copper-plates.
London: Printed for the author, by John and Paul Knapton, 1748.
G420.A5 W35 1748

Walter, Richard, 1716?-1785.
A voyage round the world: in the years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV, by George Anson, Esq, now Lord Anson, commander in chief of a squadron of His Majesty's ships, sent upon an expedition to the South-Seas / compiled from his papers and materials by Richard Walter ; illustrated with forty-two copper-plates.
London: Printed for D. Browe, J. Osborne and J. Shipton, J. Hodges, W. Bowyer, W. Strahan, H.S.Cox, J. Ward, R. Baldwin, S. Crowder and H. Woodgate, 1756.
f G420.A5 W35 1756

Walter, Richard, 1716?-1785.
Voyage autour du monde fait dans les années 1740, 41, 42, 43 & 44 / par George Anson, commandant en chef l'esadre de Sa Majesté Britannique. Orné de cartes & de figures en taille-douce.
Paris: Compagnie des Libraires, 1764.
910.4 W171vF v. 1-4
(illustrated)

Walter, Richard, 1716?-1785.
A voyage round the world, in the years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV / By George Anson, esq; afterwards Lord Anson, commander in chief of a squadron of His Majesty's ships, sent upon an expedition to the South Seas. Compiled from his papers and materials. With charts of the southern part of South America, of part of the Pacific Ocean, and of the trac of the Centurion round the world.
London: Printed for H. Woodfall, 1769.
910.4 W171v

Wilkes, Charles, 1798-1877.
Narrative of the United States exploring expedition during the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842.
Philadelphia : Lea and Blanchard, 1845.
q 508.3 Un3w v. 1-5
q 508.3 Un3w supp.
(illustrated)

Willinck, J. P. M.
Reize om Kaap Hoorn langs de westkust van Zuid-Amerika, door de Stille Zuid-Zee naar de Philippijnsche Eilanden en verder door de Chinesche Zee naar Batavia: gedaan in de jaren 1823 en 1824 met Z. M. korvet Lynx, onder bevel van J.P.M. Willinck ... / door hem zelven beschreven en met eigen geteekende platen versierd.
Breda : Broese & Comp., 1835.
f G420 .W55 1835 v. 1-2

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Last Update: October 9, 2002 , Special Collections at SpecColl@brynmawr.edu