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LOT 0097

Cook's 3rd Voyage with atlas plates bound in

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Heading:
Author: Cook, James and James King
Title: A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Undertaken, by the Command of His Majesty, for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere. Performed under the Direction of Captains Cook, Clerke, and Gore, in His Majesty's Ships the Resolution and Discovery; in the Years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, and 1780
Place Published: London
Publisher:Printed by H. Hughs, for G. Nicol... and T. Cadell
Date Published: 1785
Description:

3 volumes. [10], xcvi, 421; [14], 548; [14], 556 pp. Engraved medallion vignettes on title pages. With 88 copper-engraved maps & plates, many folding or double-page, including the Death of Cook plate. (4to) 30.5x23 cm (12x9"), period tree calf, gilt-roll borders, rebacked with later gilt-tooled tan calf, morocco lettering pieces, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Second Edition.

A choice set of the second edition of the official account of James Cook's third and final voyage, with the plates and maps normally issued separately in a folio atlas bound into the the text volumes at the appropriate places - the List of Plates directs bookbinders not to do so "unless they receive particular directions for that purpose." Evidently permission was granted. Among the plates is the rare and desirable double-page view showing the Death of Captain Cook, engraved by F. Bartolozzi after John Webber, bound between pages 46 and 47 of Volume III. This did not appear until the second edition, though it is not on the list of plates, and is often lacking. Cook's fateful third voyage, a search for the Northwest Passage, during which he was clubbed and stabbed to death by the once friendly natives of Hawaii; the first two volumes were the work of Cook himself, the third being completed by Captain James King. The superb copper-engravings include portraits of Pacific islanders, coastal scenes of northwest America and its native residents, charts, coastal profiles, various artifacts, etc.; there are two large charts, of the world, and of Alaska, Kamchatka, the Bering Straight, etc. The publication of the official account was much delayed, and, according to Holmes, "it was so eagerly awaited by the public that it was sold out on the third day after publication." This second edition has the same collation and plates as the first edition of the preceding year, except, of course, for the addition of the Death of Cook plate.

Forbes notes the second quarto edition as "printed by H. Hughs rather than by W. and A. Strahan, with the wording of the title page altered and the three-volume text completely reset. A distinguishing feature of the second quarto edition is the addition of engraved vignettes of the Royal Society Medal to the title pages. Volume I has Cook in profile, and Volume II has the verso of the same medal. The Volume III title has an oval medallion portrait of Captain King... The second edition of Cook's Third Voyage is considered typographically superior to the first edition." Dimensions: Condition Report: Some wear to corners and cover edges, a bit of rubbing to spine; some offset and darkening within, as generally occurs, occasional foxing; the large folding chart of the world has marginal chips and tears where it extends beyond the text block; very good condition.

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Time, Location
06 Feb 2020
USA, Pasadena, CA
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[ translate ]

Heading:
Author: Cook, James and James King
Title: A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Undertaken, by the Command of His Majesty, for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere. Performed under the Direction of Captains Cook, Clerke, and Gore, in His Majesty's Ships the Resolution and Discovery; in the Years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, and 1780
Place Published: London
Publisher:Printed by H. Hughs, for G. Nicol... and T. Cadell
Date Published: 1785
Description:

3 volumes. [10], xcvi, 421; [14], 548; [14], 556 pp. Engraved medallion vignettes on title pages. With 88 copper-engraved maps & plates, many folding or double-page, including the Death of Cook plate. (4to) 30.5x23 cm (12x9"), period tree calf, gilt-roll borders, rebacked with later gilt-tooled tan calf, morocco lettering pieces, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Second Edition.

A choice set of the second edition of the official account of James Cook's third and final voyage, with the plates and maps normally issued separately in a folio atlas bound into the the text volumes at the appropriate places - the List of Plates directs bookbinders not to do so "unless they receive particular directions for that purpose." Evidently permission was granted. Among the plates is the rare and desirable double-page view showing the Death of Captain Cook, engraved by F. Bartolozzi after John Webber, bound between pages 46 and 47 of Volume III. This did not appear until the second edition, though it is not on the list of plates, and is often lacking. Cook's fateful third voyage, a search for the Northwest Passage, during which he was clubbed and stabbed to death by the once friendly natives of Hawaii; the first two volumes were the work of Cook himself, the third being completed by Captain James King. The superb copper-engravings include portraits of Pacific islanders, coastal scenes of northwest America and its native residents, charts, coastal profiles, various artifacts, etc.; there are two large charts, of the world, and of Alaska, Kamchatka, the Bering Straight, etc. The publication of the official account was much delayed, and, according to Holmes, "it was so eagerly awaited by the public that it was sold out on the third day after publication." This second edition has the same collation and plates as the first edition of the preceding year, except, of course, for the addition of the Death of Cook plate.

Forbes notes the second quarto edition as "printed by H. Hughs rather than by W. and A. Strahan, with the wording of the title page altered and the three-volume text completely reset. A distinguishing feature of the second quarto edition is the addition of engraved vignettes of the Royal Society Medal to the title pages. Volume I has Cook in profile, and Volume II has the verso of the same medal. The Volume III title has an oval medallion portrait of Captain King... The second edition of Cook's Third Voyage is considered typographically superior to the first edition." Dimensions: Condition Report: Some wear to corners and cover edges, a bit of rubbing to spine; some offset and darkening within, as generally occurs, occasional foxing; the large folding chart of the world has marginal chips and tears where it extends beyond the text block; very good condition.

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Time, Location
06 Feb 2020
USA, Pasadena, CA
Auction House
Unlock