Anson, George (1697-1762) A Voyage round the World, in the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV.

Anson, George (1697-1762) A Voyage round the World, in the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV. London: for the Author by John and Paul Knapton, 1748. First edition, large quarto, illustrated with forty-two copper-plate engravings, all folding, with many maps, bound in the original boards (quite worn) rebacked with buckram, a good candidate for restoration, 10 x 8 in.

This account of Anson's ill-fated voyage, compellingly compiled by Richard Walter (c. 1716-1795) set the standard for popular adventuring narratives of the period. It was so popular that it was printed six times in the first year of its publication. The expedition lost six of its eight original vessels, and approximately 600 of the 900 member crew. Stops at ports of call to take on citrus kept any lucky scurvy-survivors alive. Off of Macau, Anson's Centurion captured the much larger Spanish galleon Nostra Signora de Cabadonga, which carried a cargo "amounting in value to near a million and a half dollars [...] 1,313,843 pieces of eight, and 35,682 oz. of virgin silver." A chart of the Pacific Ocean taken from the Spanish galleon is published here for the first time.