In 1621 Sandys took up the post of treasurer of the colony of Virginia. By the time he reached Virginia, he had already completed a translation of the first five books (out of 15) of the 'Metamorphoses', which - according to tradition - was published in 1621; but with no surviving copies of this edition, its existence remains a matter of speculation. In 1947, however, a copy of what appears to be the second edition of this 'ghost', also printed in 1621, was found 'in a barrow in front of an obscure bookshop' (McManaway, 1948, 'The First Five Bookes of Ovids Metamorphosis, 1621, "Englished by Master George Sandys"'). During his treasurership, he translated the remaining ten books and published a full translation in 1626 with William Stansby in London, the edition upon which the present is based. With the exception of the first five books, translated before he reached the US, Sandys' translation thus constitutes the earliest significant poetic output written in the New World.

With only 11 copies recorded by OCLC, the present edition is by far the most uncommon of the complete editions.