Beschreibung:

CAPTAIN JAMES COOK (1728-1779) [FIRST VOYAGE] -- John HAWKESWORTH (1715?-1779). An Account of the Voyages undertaken ... for making discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere. London: for W.Strahan and T.Cadell, 1773. 3 volumes, 4° (vol.I: 285 x 228mm.; vols.II & III: 272 x 220mm.). 52 engraved plates, charts and maps (2 double-page, 39 folding, the folding 'Chart of the Straights of Magellan' bound into the atlas volume of plates to the third voyage), extra-illustrated with a duplicate of plate numbered 23 in vol.I. (Vol.II without 3G1 final [?]blank, 3Q4 in vol.III with section of upper blank margin lacking [paperfault] but with partial early repair, 3Z2 in vol.III with paperfault tear affecting text area, occasional spotting, browning or offsetting to plates.) Near-contemporary diced russia, covers with border of two outer gilt fillets enclosing a wide inner border of a decorative roll tooled in blind, spines in five compartments with wide raised bands, lettered in gilt in the second, third and fourth, the first and fifth compartments with repeat decoration in gilt and blind, gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers (hinges weak). A FINE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION. Although the size of text blocks show appreciable variation, the bindings are uniform in size. Mitchell Library Cook 648; Hill p.139; Sabin 30934. [SECOND VOYAGE] -- James COOK A Voyage towards the South Pole, and around the World. London: for W.Strahan and T.Cadell, 1777. 2 volumes, 4° (284 x 230mm.). Engraved portrait frontispiece and 63 plates, charts and maps (26 folding, 7 double-page). (Lacking the folding letterpress table 'pp.366-7' bound between 3A2 and 3A3 in vol.II, without 3C2 in vol.I final [?]blank, portrait frontispiece with some tattering to outer blank margin but backed onto early laid paper, upper and outer margins of two plates shaved just affecting the plate area, lower margin of a third shaved with loss to imprint, some appreciable spotting or offsetting.) Near-contemporary russia gilt (uniformly bound with the first voyage [see above]). FIRST EDITION. Mitchell Library Cook 1216; Hill p.61; Rosove 77A1; Sabin 16245. [THIRD VOYAGE] -- James COOK & Captain James KING A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean... for making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere. London: W. & A.Strahan for G.Nicol and T.Cadell, 1784. 3 volumes, (text: 3 vols., 4° [290 x 228mm.]; atlas vol. of plates, large 2° [580 x 430mm.]). Text: 1p. publisher's advertisements at end of vol.III, 24 engraved plates, charts and maps (13 folding), one folding letter-press table. (Without final [?]blanks 3H4 in vol.I and 4A4 in vol.II, some spotting and offsetting.) Atlas: 63 engaved plates and maps (1 folding map. 1 double-page map), extra-illustrated with folding engraved 'Chart of the Straights of Magellan' from the first voyage (see above). (Occasional light old marginal dampstaining or spotting, 'Staights of Magellan' chart with old creases.) Text: Contemporary tree calf gilt, narrow decorative roll around covers, spines in six compartments with raised bands, red morocco lettering-piece in the second, black morocco lettering-piece in the fourth, the other compartments with repeat decoration in gilt of a large stylised flower surrounded by rocaille-work (joints weak). Atlas: 20th-century half-calf, spine gilt (upper cover lightly affected by damp). FIRST EDITION. The plates in the atlas volume are all on full sheets with uncut margins. Mitchell Library Cook 1543; Hill pp.61-62; Sabin 16250. Provenance : C.A.O. Fox (bookplates). A FINE COLLECTION OF FIRST EDITIONS OF THESE JUSTLY RENOWNED OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS COOK'S THREE VOYAGES: 'THE BASIS FOR ANY COLLECTION OF PACIFIC BOOKS. In three great voyages Cook did more to clarify the geographical knowledge of the southern hemisphere than all his predecessors had done together. He was the first really scientific navigator and his voyages made great contributions to many fields of knowledge' (Hill p.61). (9)