George Forster

Kleine Schriften. Ein Beytrag zur Völker- und Landerkunde, Naturgeschichte und Philosophie des Lebens

Berlin: In der Vossischen Buchhandlung, 1794-1803.
16cm x 9cm. [xii], 464, [iv], 380, [vi], 362, [viii], 407, [viii], 435, [3], [vi], 418, [1] pages, 6 volumes, 20 engraved plates (2 folding). Recent speckled papered boards, leather spine labels, gilt lettering. Text is in German.

[Miscellaneous Writings. Ethnography, geography, natural history and philosophy]. Forster's miscellaneous writings, including in volume 1 his famous biography of James Cook 'Cook der Entdecker' (pp. 1 - 232), as well as his treatises on New South Wales 'Neuholland und die brittische Colonie in Botany-Bay' (pp. 233 - 274), Tahiti 'O-Taheiti' (pp. 275 - 392) and on the breadfruit tree 'Der Brodbaum' (pp. 393 - 464). The article on the breadfruit is illustrated with two plates.

The first volume is here present in the second edition of 1803, the remaining 5 volumes are all first editions, 1794-1797. Volumes 2-5 contain a wide range of pieces by Forster, incl. travel (America, Madagascar etc), literature, ethnography and science (incl. a description of the Hawaiian green creeper). Volume 6 contains Forster's 'Erinnerungen aus dem Jahre 1790', illustrated historical cameos on the French Revolution with 18 engraved plates.

Offered together with the 2007 English translation Cook, the Discoverer. Bound in half leather and published by Hordern House, one of an edition of 1,050 copies.Very good copies, without, as often, the two maps of North America. Minor staining to edges. Very minor foxing. Some pencil underlining. Cook the Discover with minor soiling to upper board and foxing to top edge.