Heading: (Cook, James)
Author:
Title: Set of Cook's Three Voyages including Atlas
Place Published: London
Publisher:W. Strahan & T. Cadell, et al.
Date Published: 1773-1788
Description: 9 volumes, including atlas. Text volumes 29x23 cm (11½x9"); atlas 55.5x41 cm (22x16¼"), uniformly bound in half calf, raised bands, morocco lettering pieces. Second edition of first voyage, fourth edition of second voyage, second edition of third voyage.Complete set of the three seminal voyages of the great explorer of the Pacific Ocean, culminating in his final, fruitless search for a Northwest Passage, the discovery of the Sandwich Islands, and his death. The first voyage details his voyage to Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus, and his masterful charting of New Zealand, the east coast of Australia, etc. Presented are some of the earliest descriptions and illustrations of the wonders of the Pacific, including Tahiti, the Society Islands, New Zealand, the east coast of Australia, and more. The first voyage was written by John Hawkesworth from Cook's notes, but in the first person, i.e., the person of Cook. Cook was not happy with the treatment and following his second voyage insisted on editing his own account of the expedition. Cook wrote the account of the second voyage, his search for the great Antarctic continent, although he left on his third voyage before the book was printed so that he was never able to see the finished product. Superbly illustrated with, in Cook's words, "about sixty copper plates, which, I am of opinion, will exceed every thing that has been done in a work of this kind."
Cook's third and final voyage relates the expedition in which the Sandwich Islands [now Hawaiian Islands] were discovered. Cook would be killed by the initially friendly natives of Hawaii. Also, in Cook's search for the Northwest Passage, he surveyed the straits between Asia and America and ascertained the proximity between them, and there is much information on the northwest coast of North America, Alaska, Kamchatka, and other northern climes. The account of Cook's third voyage was completed by Captain James King. The publication of this 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." Forbes declares the work to be "arguably the single most important book on the Hawaiian Islands" which "documents all aspects of Hawaiian culture at the point of discovery by Europeans. It is a magnificent summation of all the public and private journals, logs, drawings, and other observations made during the course of the voyage and is as important a record of the exploration of the North Pacific as Cook's first two voyages had been for the South Pacific." He further notes that twelve of the plates in the atlas relate to Hawaii, as do two of the charts in the text volumes. He also asserts "The second edition of Cook's Third Voyage is considered typographically superior to the first edition." It was completely reset and contains engraved vignettes of Royal Society medals on each title-page. Forbes 62; Holmes 5, 24 & 47; Howes C729a; Lada-Mocarski 37; Sabin 16250. Additional shipping charges may apply

Bindings moderately rubbed, some hinges shaken, overall clean but occasional foxing; atlas with front board loose, light foxing, some marginal dampstains and tears not affecting images, General Chart with tear at vertical fold without loss; an attractive, still near fine set.