Founded in 1846, the Hakluyt Society seeks to advance knowledge and education by the publication of scholarly editions of primary records of voyages, travels and other geographical material.
Membership of the Society is open to all and is strongly recommended to everybody interested in the history of exploration and travel, exploratory voyages, geographical discovery and worldwide cultural encounter.
For an annual subscription of £60 (US$110) members receive all volumes issued by the Society (other than those of the Extra Series) for the period of membership. These historically significant texts and translations, often appearing in print for the first time, are fully annotated, well illustrated with maps and plates, and conform to the highest standards of scholarship. As such they often represent the 'last word' on the material they embrace, and are widely valued by historians and geographers throughout the world.
Normally, two volumes are published each year*, representing extraordinary value for money. Beautifully bound and printed, and stamped in gold with the familiar 'Victoria' logo of the Society, the books rapidly become treasured collectors' items. In addition to receiving books at a cost that is effectively well below the normal shop price, members can also purchase many previous publications at specially discounted rates.
Supplementary to its primary role as a publisher of scholarly texts, the Society also attempts to advance its aims by organising and participating in meetings, symposia and conferences which contribute to an increased awareness of geographical exploration and cultural encounter. Members of the Society receive regular newsletters and reports to keep them abreast of the Society's activities, along with a printed copy of the Society's Annual Lecture.
The Hakluyt Society is a non-profitmaking registered charity administered and supported by a voluntary and unpaid team of council members, officers and editors.
* It must be appreciated that the preparation of works of such distinguished scholarship, often transcribed from complex and problematic source material, can sometimes encounter editorial difficulties which delay their publication into the following year. The Society endeavours to issue an average of two volumes per year and has rarely, if ever, failed to meet this objective.
The Hakluyt Society is named after Richard Hakluyt (1552-1616), the celebrated collector and editor of narratives of voyages and travels and other documents relating to English interests overseas. His name was almost certainly pronounced hack'loot, and is occasionally found with this spelling in contemporary documents. An earlier member of the family is recorded as an MP in 1304 under the name of Hakelute, and the family was of Welsh extraction and not Dutch, as is sometimes supposed.
Existing members may renew their subscription online by VISA or Mastercard by clicking Renew Subscription Online on the left of this page;
or by email to the Society office, giving your credit card details;
or by post by printing out and completing the subscription renewal form available here
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. For all other enquiries please go to the Contact page. 