COOK, James, Captain (1728-1779). -- [SECOND VOYAGE]. A Voyage towards the South Pole, and Round the World, performed in His Majesty's Ships the Resolution and Adventure, in the Years 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775. London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1777.

2 volumes, 4to (274 x 218 mm). Engraved frontispiece portrait; 63 engraved maps and plates, some folding; one folding letterpress table. (Spotting, occasional toning, offsetting to plates.) Modern calf antique.

FIRST EDITION. "The success of Cook's first voyage led the Admiralty to send him on a second expedition which was to circumnavigate the globe as far south as possible in search of any southern continents. Cook proved that there was no 'Terra Australis' which supposedly lay between New Zealand and South America but became convinced that there must be land beyond the ice fields" (Hill). Cook's instructions for the Second Voyage were to circumnavigate the globe as far south as possible to search for any southern continent. He fully proved none existed but remained convinced of a land mass beyond the ice fields and became the first to cross the Antarctic Circle. He further charted Australia, revealing the first evidence of a strait separating it from Tasmania, and New Zealand, and re-discovered Easter Island, the Marquesas, Niue, Tonga, the New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, and South Georgia. As importantly, he proved the value of the marine chronometer in determining longitude and found a means of preventing scurvy. With him were the Forsters (father and son), Sparrman, and others. Hill 358; Holmes 24; Sabin 16245.