An Account of the Voyages Undertaken by the Order of his Present Majesty for Making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere & Successively performed by Commodore Byron, Capt. Wallis, Capt. Carteret & Capt. Cook in the Dolphin, the Swallow & the Endeavour...
London: W. Strahan & T. Cadell, 1773. Hardcover book. The official account of Cook's first voyage, during which he discovered the East coast of Australia.
Period diced calf boards, blind dentelles & gilt dentelles on vol 1 & 2; vol 3 is a marriage from another copy, likely prepared for Gervase Beckett (1866-1937), a baronet, banker and politician, bearing his bookplate. There are no prints or maps in vol 1 & 2; the third volume includes 3 plates and 2 maps, all in excellent condition: Plate 14 & 15, both New Zealand ethnographic plates; Plate 20 "Kangarou"; Chart of Part of the Coast of NSW from Cape Tribulation to Endeavour Straits by Lt. J. Cook 1770; Entrance of Endeavour River in New South Wales / Botany Bay in New South Wales, bound in upside down. The text block of vol 3 is slightly smaller than the other 2 volumes. The 3 volumes have uniform spines.
Title continued... 'Drawn up from the Journals which were kept by the several Commanders, and from the Papers of Joseph Banks Esq. in three volumes. Illustrated with Cuts, and a great Variety of Charts and Maps relative to Countries now first discovered, or hitherto but imperfectly known.'
4to, 3 volumes, Vol. 1: 676pp; Vol. 2: 410pp; Vol. 3: 395pp, 3 plates & 2 maps. Full leather binding, uniformly rebacked spines, original marbled endpapers & marbled edges (differing). Overall, bright and clean copy of the text with only 3 illustrations and 2 maps, all bound in vol. 3. Overall very good condition. Item #29445
Price: $3,500.00