3 volumes. [12], xxxvi, 139, [3], 363-676; xv, [1], 410; [6], [411]-779 pp. With 52 maps, charts & plates, many folding or double-page. (4to) 11½x9, period mottled calf, gilt-tooled spines, raised bands, morocco lettering pieces, marbled endpapers. First Edition.
First edition of the official account of James Cook's first expedition of discovery into the Pacific, detailing his voyage to Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus, and his masterful charting of New Zealand, the east coast of Australia, etc. Presented to the world are some of the earliest descriptions and illustrations of the wonders of the Pacific, including Tahiti, the Society Islands, New Zealand, the east coast of Australia, and more. Written by John Hawkesworth from Cook's notes, but in the first person, i.e. the person of Cook. Cook was not happy with the treatment, and following his second voyage insisted on editing his own account of the expedition. The first volume of the present work contains accounts of the voyages of Byron, Wallis and Carteret, the last two relate wholly to Cook. This first edition of the first voyage is quite scarce, quickly selling out, with a second edition, in similar format and more commonly found, published the same year. Holmes 5. With the old armorial bookplate of Rogers on the front pastedown of Vol. I, and the more recent bookplates of A.P. Kenrick Edward on back of the free endpaper of Vol. I, and the pastedowns of Vols. II and III.
Condition:
Some scuffing and wear to the covers, corners showing, spine ends chipped, joints cracked or tender; occasional minor foxing or aging to the contents, a few plates and pages with marginal tears, one or two going into images, map of the Strait of Magellan with several large tears, a little loss, chart of New Zealand in Vol. II with 4" tear and crease, still a very nice set, in unrestored contemporary bindings.