Cook's second voyage, unauthorized, GEORG FORSTER, 1777

Cook's second voyage, unauthorized
Georg Forster, 1777
FORSTER, Georg (1754-1794). A Voyage round the World, in His Britannic Majesty's sloop, Resolution. London: for B. White, J. Robson, P. Elmsly, and G. Robinson, 1777.

The first edition of Forster's unauthorized account of Cook’s second voyage. “An important and necessary addition to Cook’s voyages” by the expedition’s naturalist (Hill). Although it was originally intended that Forster’s father, who also sailed on the mission, would write the official account of the voyage, a dispute with the Admiralty arose over payment and this unofficial account written by father and son was issued in March 1777 under the son's name, scooping the official account of the voyage which would come out only six weeks later. Forster became an important figure of the German Enlightenment and was a major influence on Alexander von Humboldt. Hill 625; Sabin 25134.

Two volumes, quarto (288 x 234mm). Large folding map, hand-colored in outline (repaired marginal tear to one leaf). Contemporary sprinkled calf (rebacked). Provenance: Thomas Carter, Esq., of Edgcott (bookplate).

Pre-Lot Text
PROPERTY OF DANA M. BALDWIN