Beschreibung:

Title: Voyage to the Pacific Ocean for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere Performed Under the Direction of Captains Cook, Clerke & Gore in the Years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, 1780. Being a Copious, Comprehensive, and Satisfactory Abridgement of the Voyage Written by Captain James Cook F.R.S. and Captain James King LL.D. and F.R.S. Author: Cook, James Place: New York Publisher: Printed by Tiebout & O'Brien for Benjamin Gomez Date: 1796 Description: 4 volumes. xii, xxxiv, 370; [iii]-xii, 359; x, 400; [iii]-xii, 310 pp. With 47 copper-engraved plates, including the frontispiece, 1 of them foldiing (Death of Captain Cook); 2 charts on 1 folding plate. (8vo) 8x4¾, period tree sheep, morocco spine labels. Early American edition of James Cook's third and last voyage, the overall object of which was to find a northwest passage, but the prime achievement being the discovery (or rediscovery) of the Hawaiian Islands, which led, unfortunately, to Cook's death at the hands of natives. The plates in this edition reproduce, on a small scale, most of the plates from the atlas of the British version, and make this the most extensively illustrated travel book published in 18th century America; included is a depiction of the death of Cook, folding, credited to Rolllington, much different than the Weber plate that most are familiar with. The imprint in Vols. II-IV reads "Printed by Tiebout and O'Brien for Benjamin & Jacob Johnson," a variation mentioned by Forbes, who also points out that this is a reprint of the London 1784 octavo edition. He also allows that the folding General Chart which should be in Vol. I, not present in this copy, is "frequently missing," as also the half-titles, which are lacking in Vols. II and IV of this set. Forbes 259; Sabin 16251. Lot Amendments Condition: Chipping to some spine ends; darkening, foxing and minor soiling, as generally occurs, a few signatures partially sprung, one plate with rough edge, else very good, with the bookplates of Clement Moore Ogden. Item number: 191302