Item #5356 The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle 1773. James Cook.
The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle 1773.

The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle 1773.

London: 1773. Hardcover. Periodical containing the first published image of a kangaroo. It contains 6 articles about Cook & the South Pacific, ranging from 4 to 7 pages each in length. The engraving of a kangaroo at p320 (after George Stubbs) is the first published representation of a kangaroo. The breadfruit and Maori canoe illustrated at p433 are after Parkinson. These are rather oddly engraved with a cut of a coin, which a reader wishes to have identified. 2 articles covering the discovery of the East coast of Australia & Tahiti titled "An Epitome of the Voyage round the World, by Lieutenant Cook..." Also "An Epitome of the Dolphin and Tamar's Voyage round the World, under the Command of Commodore Byron and Capt. Mourat" and "Epitome of Capt. Wallis's Voyage round the World."

There is a little mis-numbering of pages sprinkled throughout, but particularly in the Sept.& Dec. issues. September should start at page 417, (August correctly ends at p416), but instead September starts at p. 409. It runs from 409 to 424 correctly, then skips to p. 433. However, this is a printer's mis-numbering error, as the text flows continuously through p 470, 4pp addenda. (There even appears to be an extra (unnumbered page here). November ends p 584, but December starts at p. 576 & runs through p. 624. There follows a Supplement numbered pp 629-655, then an Index of 17 unnumbered pages. The numbering after December makes it appear that there are 5pp missing - however, the format for December is consistent with previous months, and we feel this is just another printer's error.

Vol. XLII. 8vo, (iv) 655pp & 17pp index, 22 copper plate engravings, some folding, & 1 folding map. Directions to the Binder for placing the plates calls for a Chart of the S. Sea at p590, but this plate was obviously never included as there is no impression mark. Bound in original full diced calf, raised bands, gilt title. Hinges cracked but holding, a very good copy. Item #5356

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