Author: [COOK, CAPTAIN JAMES]. HAWKESWORTH, JOHN:
Title: Relation des voyages entrepris par ordre de sa Majeste Britannique, actuellement regnante: Pour faire des decouvertes dans l'Hemisphere Meridional, et successivement executes par le Commodore Byron, le Capitaine Carteret, le Capitaine Wallis & le Capitaine Cook, dans les vaisseaux le Dauphin, le Swallow & l'Endeavour ... Four volumes. Paris, 1774.
Description: . 4to. Pp. (iv), iv, (ii), v-xvi, xxxii, 388 with 16 folding engraved maps and plates; pp. (vi), 536 and 16 engraved maps and plates, of which many folding; pp. (vi), 394, (1) and 17 engraved maps and plates, mostly folding; pp. viii, (ii), 367, (1) and 3 folding engraved maps and plates. A few plates with small tears at fold and one leaf in volume four (pp. 359/60) reinforced at outer margin without loss of text. Contemporary full calf, spines with five raised bands, decorated in gilt and with title labels, worn. Extremities rubbed, hinges weak and cracked (volume four upper board detached), and first volume's title label vanished. Occasionally some browning but overall a good copy. First French edition of this early important compilation of British maritime expeditions, edited by Hawkesworth, translated from the original English published in the previous year. Includes the first official account of Cook's first voyage during which he visited Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus across the disk of the sun, discovered the Society Islands, explored and surveyed New Zealand, and the eastern coast of Australia, naming it New South Wales. Other voyages included are: Byron's voyage to the Gilbert Islands, Wallace's discovery of Tahiti and Moorea, and Carteret's discovery of Pitcairn Island. The beautiful plates depict sea views, landscapes and natives. The maps show the new discoveries in the Pacific and the different routes of the ships. Many new areas were charted and several islands and coastlines were recorded for the first time. Borba de Moraes 395. Cf Hill 783. Sabin 30940.

Keywords: Oceania incl. Pacific, pacific, oceania, south sea, travel, voyage, exploration, cook


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