Captain Cook, Voyage To The South Pole And Around The World. 2vo. 63 Plates 1784
Item History & Price
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
By James Cook, Commander of the Resolution
COOK, James. A Voyage towards the South Pole, and round the World. In which is included, Captain Furneaux's Narrative of his Proceedings in the Adventure during the Separation of the Ships. Also an additional piece on the health of mariners, by Sir Pringle.
W. Strahan and T. Cadell, London, 1784. 2 volumes, quatro. (11 x 9 inches). Engraved portrait of Cook by J. Basire after Wm. Hodges, 63 engraved plates, maps and charts (15 folding, 16 double-page). Complete. Contemporary calf, covers with decorative borders tooled in blind, expertly rebacked with original spine laid in, thus hinges are strong and flex nicely. spine with raised bands in six compartments, black morocco labels in the second and fourth, the others with a repeat decoration in gilt. original boards, expertly rebound in, bumped corners, but adds to the character of these great books. The text is very clean tight and bright, large type, and the plates are in excellent condition. Great bookshelf appeal.
Cook's second voyage on which he was directed to circumnavigate the globe as far south as possible to search for any southern continent. "Cook earned his place in history by opening up the Pacific to western civilization and by the foundation of British Australia. The world was given for the first time an essentially complete knowledge of the Pacific Ocean and Australia, and Cook proved once and for all that there was no great southern continent, as had always been believed. He also suggested the existence of antarctic land in the southern ice ring, a fact which was not proved until the explorations of the nineteenth century"
There are 63 beautiful plates based on William Hodges (artist on board the Resolution) of which I'm only able to upload a few photos. All the plates, fold out maps and diagrams are in excellent condition.