Heading:
Author: Cook, James
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 the Years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, and 1780. Being a copious, comprehensive, and satisfactory Abridgement of the Voyage written by Captain James Cook, F.R.S., and Captain James King, L.L.D. and F.R.S.
Place Published: London
Publisher:John Stockdale, et al.
Date Published: [1784]
Description:

4 volumes. viii, [v]-xii, 370; [iii]-xii, 359; [iii]-xii, 400; [iii]-xii, 310, [64] pp. With 49 copper-engraved plates (1 folding); 2 folding charts. (8vo) 21x12.8 cm (8¼x5"), later quarter calf over marbled boards, morocco spine labels, spines lettered in gilt; fresh endpapers. First Octavo Edition.

A handsome example of the octavo edition of the official account of Cook's fateful third voyage, a search for the Northwest Passage, during which he was clubbed and stabbed to death after attempting to kidnap Kalani??pu?u, the ruling figure of the indigenous people of Hawaii. The excellent plates including a folding copper engraving of "The Death of Captain James Cook, F.R.S. at Owhyhee in MDCCLXXIX," drawn by D.P. Dodd "& others who were on the spot." There is a folding chart of Hawaii with a sketch of Karakooa Bay and a large folding chart of the world, with the tracks of Cook's three voyages. Forbes notes that although dated 1784, this edition was issued in parts, and not actually completed until 1785. Armorial bookplates of Godfrey Burchardt Ashton.

Slight wear and rubbing to calf and boards; bookseller inscription on front free endpaper of volume I, endpaper of volume IV torn, offsetting from plates, occasional foxing, stub tear to folding map; very good.