Captain James Cook | Complete set of the voyages, 1773-1784, 9 volumes

Property of a Nobleman

Captain James Cook

A complete set of the voyages, comprising:

Hawkesworth, John. An Account of the Voyages undertaken 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, 3 volumes, 4to (294 x 223mm.), 51 engraved plates, charts and maps (most folding or double-page), [Beddie, BCJC 648; Hill (2004) 782; Sabin 30934], without “Chart of the Streight of Magellan”, as often, fourth plate spotted

Cook, James. A Voyage towards the South Pole, and round the world… second edition. London: Printed for W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1777, 2 volumes, 4to (290 x 224mm.), 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, with “List of the Plates” [Beddie 1217; cf. Hill (2004) 358], a few plates shaved or cropped

Cook, James and Captain James King. A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean ... for making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere. London: W. and A. Strahan, 1784, 4 volumes, 4to (3 vol. text 288 x 220mm.) and folio (one vol. plates 550 x 400mm.), 87 engraved plates, charts and maps, folding letterpress table, with “List of the Plates”, [Beddie, BCJC 1552, 1543; cf. Hill (2004) 361; Sabin 16250], atlas with occasional spotting, one plate torn and repaired

together 3 works in 9 volumes, contemporary calf (atlas in half calf and with typed label stuck to upper cover), joints cracked and other wear to binding

"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).

PROVENANCE:

Matthew Lewis, bookplate;

Panshanger, bookplate

Panshanger, now demolished and formerly the seat of the Earls of Cowper, was also the repository for much of the collection of Lord Melbourne, after his seat, Brocket Hall, came to the 7th Earl of Cowper following the death of Emily Temple, Viscountess Palmerston.