Beschreibung:

COOK, Capt. James (1728-1779). A set of the three voyages, second editions, London 1773-1785, with a first edition of Kippis's life of Cook. Comprising
COOK, Capt. James (1728-1779). A set of the three voyages, second editions, London 1773-1785, with a first edition of Kippis's life of Cook. Comprising: [FIRST VOYAGE]. -- HAWKESWORTH, John. An Account of the Voyages... for making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere... In the Dolphin, the Swallow, and the Endeavour . London: for W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1773. 3 volumes. 52 engraved maps, charts and views, of which 48 folding. (Occasional browning, offsetting and soiling, short tear just into image of Chart of New South Wales in vol. III without loss, small hole to lower margin of T1 in vol. II without loss, tear to A2 in vol. III without loss.) Second edition. BCBJ 650; cf. Sabin 30934. [SECOND VOYAGE] -- COOK, Capt. James. A Voyage Towards the South Pole, and Round the World. Performed in His Majesty's Ships Resolution and Adventure, In the Years 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775 . London: W. Strahan, 1777. 2 volumes. 63 engraved plates (a few repaired tears, a few cropped at fore-edge, some scattered pale spotting). Second edition. [THIRD VOYAGE] -- A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Undertaken, by the command of His Majesty, for making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere. To determine The Position and Extent of the West Side of North America; its Distance from Asia; and the Practicability of a Northern Passage to Europe . London: G. Nicol, 1785. 3 volumes. 88 engraved plates: 24 in text volumes and 64 in atlas, including the "Death of Cook" plate at end (without letters) (some scattered foxing, a few marginal repairs). Second edition. KIPPIS, Andrew. The Life of Captain James Cook . London: G. Nicol and G.C.J. and J. Robinson 1788. Half-title. Engraved frontispiece. Together 10 volumes, comprising 8 volumes text, 4 o (289 x 231 mm), and atlas 2 o (580 x 415 mm). Text in contemporary tree calf (recently expertly rebacked with gilt tooled spines), atlas volume in modern half calf, marbled boards, UNCUT. Provenance : Sir James Graham Duke of Montrose (1755-1836), politician, commissioner of Indian affairs 1791-1803, president of the board of trade under Pitt (bookplates); Alfred Sutro (1869-1945), San Francisco attorney and long-time member of the California Historical Society. A FINE SET OF COOK'S VOYAGES "CAPTAIN COOK'S THREE GREAT VOYAGES FORM 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 together had done. He was the first really scientific navigator, and his voyages made great contributions to many fields of knowledge" (Hill). "The date of Captain James Cook's exploration of the eastern coast marks the beginning of a new era in the history of Australia. Cook took possession of the country for Great Britain. From the resemblance of its coasts to the southern shores of Wales, he called it New South Wales" (Edward Jenks The Great Events... Vol XVII p.238). As a sign of its popularity--even despite their great expense--first editions were sold out within a few days of publication. See Hill 782, 358, 361; Holmes 5, 24, 47; Mitchell Library Cooki 648, 1216, 1552; Sabin 30934, 16245, 16250. (10)