Africa.- Lopes (Duarte) A Report of the Kingdome of Congo, a Region of Africa, first edition in English, translated by Abraham Hartwell, collation: [fleuron]4, *4, 2*2, A-2E4, woodcut device on title and arms to verso, 10 full-page woodcut illustrations, some shaved, lacking the 2 engraved maps, also lacking 2*2 and A1 (blank except signature 'A'), some light foxing, 18th century calf, gilt, worn, upper cover and endpapers detached, [STC 16805; Mendelssohn (1979) III, 163], 4to, Printed by John Wolfe, 1597.

⁂ One of the earliest descriptions of Central Africa. First published in Italian in Rome in 1591, the English translation was made by Abraham Hartwell at the request of Richard Hakluyt.

Lopez lived at Loanda from 1578 to 1587 before returning to Rome at the request of the King of Congo, Don Alvaro, in a vain attempt to interest Pope Sixtus V in the Congo. Pigafetta's compilation, derived from Lopez's notes, is largely devoted to the geography of the various provinces, the climate, the succession of native monarchs, and the relationship of the Portuguese with the Congolese that led to the growth of Christianity. De Bry and Purchas included extracts from this history in their collections of voyages.