Cook, Captain James

[First Voyage] John Hawkesworth. An Account of the Voyages by the order of his present Majesty for making discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere, and successively performed by Commodore Byron, Captain Wallis, Captain Carteret and Captain Cook, in the Dolphin, the Swallow, and the Endeavour. London: Printed for W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1773, FIRST EDITION, early issue (without the chart of the Strait of Magellan), 3 volumes, 51 engraved plates, charts and maps (most folding or double-page), contemporary calf, [Beddie, BCJC 648; Hill (2004) 782; Sabin 30934], slight marginal loss to a few leaves (not affecting text), bindings repaired

[Second Voyage] James Cook. A Voyage towards the South Pole, and round the world. London: Printed for W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1784, fourth edition, 2 volumes, engraved portrait frontispiece of Cook by J. Basire after W. Hodges, 63 engraved plates, charts and maps (most folding or double-page), folding printed table, contemporary calf gilt, [Beddie, BCJC 1229; cf. Hill (2004) 358; Sabin 16245], [M.H.R., book labels], scattered minor repairs, a few plates slightly trimmed



[Third Voyage] James Cook and Captain James King. A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean ... for making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere. London: Printed for G. Nicol and T. Cadell, 1785, second edition, 3 volumes text and atlas, together 4 volumes, text with 24 engraved charts and plates (some folding), folding printed table, atlas with 2 folding maps, and 63 plates (some folding, including 'Death of Captain Cook' plate loosely inserted), text in contemporary tree calf, atlas in modern half calf in period style, [Beddie, BCJC 1552; cf. Hill (2004) 361; Sabin 16250], without advert leaf at end of volume 3, minor offsetting and tears, 'Death of Captain Cook' plate repaired and with marginal loss 



text 4to (296 x 267mm.), uniformly rebacked, slightly rubbed, atlas folio (550 x 410mm.), together 9 volumes

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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"The famous accounts of Captain Cook's three 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 had done together. He was really the first scientific navigator and his voyages made great contributions to many fields of knowledge" (Hill). Cook's first voyage included visits to Tahiti and New Zealand, and the tracing of the east coast of Australia was one of the most perilous feats of navigation in the whole recorded history of exploration. The second voyage pushed further south in search of a southern continent than any previous navigators, as well as visiting numerous Pacific islands. The third voyage returned to islands previously visited, discovered Hawaii, and explored the northwest coast of America from Alaska to Oregon. The text of these official reports form an invaluable record of the voyages, but they are enhanced enormously by the plates, maps, charts and views which include the work of one of the greatest cartographers of his day as well as images from the three most important artists to visit the Pacific during the eighteenth century.