A Complete Set of Cook's Voyages with Kippis, and the Death of Cook Plate. An Account of the Voyages undertaken by the order of his Present Majesty for Making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere; Voyage Towards the South Pole; A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean undertaken, by the Command of his Majesty, for making discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere.
FIRST VOYAGE. Hawkesworth, J. An Account of the Voyages undertaken by the order of his Present Majesty for Making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere drawn up from the Journal which were kept by the Several Commanders, and from the Papers of Joseph Banks.
London, W. Strahan & T. Cadell 1773, the 2nd & preferred edition, with Hawkesworth 'Reply to Dalrymple & the map "Streights of Magellan". 3 volumes quarto:
Vol I: (ii) title, (iv) dedication, (vi) contents, xxiii introduction, xxiii-xxxiv explanation nautical terms, xxxv-xxxvi description of the cuts, (3) directions, (1) errata, (8) Preface to 2nd edition, 456 pp, frontis & (map world) & 17 maps including the strategically important and previously suppressed large folding map "Streights of Magellan" & 3 folding copper engraved plates.
Vol II: (ii) title, (vi) contents, (ii) half title, xi-xiv introduction, 410pp, 8 maps, 14 plates.
Vol III: (ii) title, (iv) contents, 7-395pp, 3 maps, 6 plates. With a small private library stamp on the titles only.
Cook's 1st voyage was designed to observe the transit of Venus across the sun from the Southern Hemisphere, determine the distance between the sun and the earth and continue Byron's exploration. On completion of those tasks, Cook charted for the first time the Society Islands, New Zealand & the east coast of Australia (naming New South Wales). The other narratives include Byron's voyage to the Gilbert & Tuamotu Islands, Wallis's discovery of Tahiti & Moorea and Carteret's discovery of Pitcairn Island after his separation in a storm from Capt. Wallis. "The second edition is considered the best edition", states Hill p. 139. This contains the important map of the Straits of Magellan, and includes the reply by Hawkesworth to a letter from Alexander Dalrymple. Volumes II & III are separately paginated - in the 1st edition, they are paginated consecutively.
SECOND VOYAGE. Cook, James. Voyage Towards the South Pole, and Round the World performed in H.M.S. the Resolution and Adventure in the years 1772, 73, 74 & 1775... written by James Cook, Commander of the Resolution. In which is included Captain Furneaux's narrative of his proceedings in the Adventure during the separation of the ships...
London, W. Strahan & T. Cadell 1779, the 3rd edition. 2 volumes quarto:
Vol I: (ii) title, (vi) contents, ix-xl general introduction includes list of plates, 378pp, frontis portrait of Cook (offsetting on the title page) 35 plates & maps.
Vol II: (ii) title, 5 pp contents, 1 pp advert (for Wales & Bayley, "Astronomical Observations"), 396pp, 27 plates & maps.
The main objective of the 2nd voyage was to circumnavigate the world as far south as possible in search of the Great Southern Land. In doing so, the Resolution & Adventure became the first ships to cross the Antarctic circle, in Jan. 1773. Cook crossed the Antarctic circle twice more and achieved the 71 S, a record that was to last for 50 years. On this voyage Cook pioneered the use of sauerkraut as a dietary supplement to prevent scurvy- he succeeded, losing only four of his 112 man crew and none from scurvy. This was regarded as a great maritime feat on its own. During this voyage, Cook played his part in furthering the great longitude debate. An accurate way to determine longitude had long been a goal of all seafaring nations. English clockmaker John Harrison was a mechanical genius who invented a clock that would carry the true time from the home port, thereby enabling the calculation of the ships' longitude. Cook carried four watches with him, the principal one named "K-1," which he frequently complimented in the log of the Resolution, calling it "our trusty friend the Watch," and "our never failing guide, the Watch." With its help, he made the first, and highly accurate, charts of many newly discovered South Pacific islands. This is also the only account of any of his voyages that Cook himself wrote.
THIRD VOYAGE. Cook, James & King, James. Voyage to the Pacific Ocean undertaken, by the Command of his Majesty, for making discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere to determine the Position and Extent of the West Side of North America;... In his Majesty's Ships the Resolution and Discovery. In the Years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, and 1780.
London, printed by H. Hughs, for G. Nicol and T. Cadell 1785, the 2nd edition. 3 volumes quarto:
Vol I: (ii) title, (viii) contents, (lxxxvi) introduction, (lxxxvii-lxxxix) to the Memory of Capt. James Cook, (i) blank, (xci) list of plates (total xcvi) & 421 pp, 7 pp maps and plates
Vol II: (ii) title, 10pp contents, 548pp, 11 maps & plates
Vol III: (ii) title, 10pp contents, (ii) appendix, 556pp, 6 maps & plates.
The seven appendices include: Tables of the Route of the Resolution & Discovery; Tables of Numerals, exhibiting the Affinity and Extent of Language...; Vocabulary of Language of Friendly Islands; Vocabulary of Language of Nootka...; Vocabulary of Language of Atooi, one of the Sandwich Islands; Table to Shew the Affinity between the Languages spoken at Oonalashka & Nootka Sound; Table of the Variations of the Compass.
The narrative of Cook's 3rd voyage (1776-1780) was compiled by James King, who succeeded him as commander at Cook's death. The objective of the 3rd voyage was to search for the North West Passage from the western side, and in general continue the surveying of the Pacific. Besides exploring and charting the NW coast from Bering Straits to northern California, the expedition also called at Tasmania, New Zealand & the Cook, Tonga & Hawaii Islands. Cook also had the Watch "K-1" with him on this voyage. Despite Cook's great diplomacy & his efforts to respect the native peoples of the lands he visited, Cook was murdered in Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii. Almost at the instant Cook died in 1779, according to an account kept at the time, K-1 also stopped ticking. "This voyage resulted in what Cook judged his most valuable discovery - the Hawaiian Islands." Hill p. 62. A most important Pacific voyage -a primary reference for Hawaii, Alaska & the Pacific Northwest.
Kippis, Andrew. The Life of Captain James Cook...
G. Nicol and G.G.J and J. Robinson, London 1788, 1st edition. 4to, xvi, 528pp, portrait frontis. A fine large copy.
First edition of the first biography of Cook, the standard life of the navigator for the next century. Kippis's work was partly based on printed sources and Admiralty documents, but also, as he points out in his Preface, "the fresh matter now communicated is of the most authentic kind, and derived from the most respectable sources...Lord Howe... the Earl of Sandwich...Sir Hugh Palliser...the Captain's amiable and worthy Widow... Sir Joseph Banks". the 22-page account of Cook's death is sourced directly from Samwell, whose account (today exceptionally rare) had appeared in print two years earlier, with Kippis's help: "I procured its publication, that, if any objections should be made to it, I might be able to notice them in my own work. As the narrative hath continued for more than two years unimpeached and uncontradicted, I esteem myself fully authorised to insert it in this place, as containing the most complete and authentic account of the melancholy catastrophe, which, at Owhyee, befell our illustrious navigator and Commander...". As Holmes notes, this text is "the frankest and most reliable of all contemporary accounts". The proposed settlement of Botany Bay is mentioned as a result of the voyages; "If it be wisely and prudently begun and constructed, who can tell what beneficial consequences may spring from it, in future ages?: Beddie, 32; Davidson, p 67; Hill, p. 163; Hocken, pp 26-7; Holmes, 69; Kroepelien, 647; Lada-Mocarski, 40; O'Reilly-Reitman, 455; Sabin, 37954.
Folio atlas with the rare "DEATH OF COOK" plate. 61 copper-engraved plates & 2 folding maps, very clean.
Magnificently bound in full matching full brown marbled decorated calf, spine in six compartments, elaborately gilt decorated, gilt dentelles, title labels in in red gilt calf, volume number labels in black gilt calf. The folio atlas is bound to match in march half brown decorated calf and marbled boards.
The cornerstone of any Pacific voyage collection. These official accounts are the full accounts of the three voyages and are illustrated with impressive engravings based on the works of the official artists, which include Sydney Parkinson, Wm. Hodges and John Webber. At the time of publishing, they were very expensive and the 1st editions were sold out within a few days of publication.
Hill, pp.61,62,139. PRINTING & THE MIND OF MAN 223. Sabin 16245, 16250, 30934. Lada-Mocarski 37 (third voyage). Holmes 1,24,47. Beddie 650,1217,1543. Rosove 77.A2 (second voyage). Item #9252
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