Beschreibung:

COOKS FIRST VOYAGE. (4). (COOK, JAMES ) - HAWKESWORTH, J(OHN). Relation des voyages entrepris par ordre de sa Majesté Britannique, actuellement regnante; pour faire des découvertes dans l'Hémisphère Méridional, et successivement exécutés par le Commodore Bryan, le Capitaine Carteret, le Capitaine Wallis & le capitaine Cook, dans les vaisseaux le Dauphin, le Swallow & l'Endeavour... I-IV. Paris (chez Saillant et Nyon - Panckoucke) 1774. 4:o (c. 250x198 mm.). For collation, see below. 52 mostly folding engraved maps, plans, and plates (all, a few with small tears at folding, some minor spots). Contemporary brown full calf, somewhat worn, blindtooled borders, gilt edges of covers, upper joint of vol. IV partly cracked, gilt spines in six compartments, some damage to head of vol. I, spine labels partly worn, defective to vol. I. Some browning and foxing. 1 leaf in vol. IV (pp. 359/60) reinforced in outer margin without loss of text. Occasionally some browning or foxing. 4 volumes. Collation: Vol. I: (4), (i)-xvi, (2), (1)-xxxii, (1)-388 pp. Vol II: (6), (1)-536 pp. Vol. III: (6), (1)-394, (2, last blank) pp. Vol. IV: (5), vi-viii, (2), (1)-367, (1) pp. First French edition of this early important compilation of British maritime expeditions, edited by Hawkesworth, translated from the original English published in 1773. Includes the first official account of Cook's first voyage during which he visited Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus across the disk of the sun; discovered the Society Islands, explored and surveyed New Zealand, and the eastern coast of Australia, naming it New South Wales. Other voyages included are: Byron's voyage to the Gilbert Islands, Wallace's discovery of Tahiti and Moorea, and Carteret's discovery of Pitcairn Island. The plates depict sea views, landscapes and natives. The maps show the new discoveries in the Pacific and the different routes of the ships. Many new areas were charted and several islands and coastal lines were recorded for the first time.