iv, viii, 472, 471*-477*, [1], 473-540, 547-557, [1] pp. Illustrated. with 2 copper-engraved portraits; 2 folding copper-engraved maps; 5 tables. (4to) 28.5x22.5 cm. (11¼x9¾"), period tree calf with gilt-roll boarders, spine tooled & lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers. First Edition.
A curious collection of articles, important in the present instance for containing the first publication of Don Francisco Antonio Mourelle's (or Maurelle) Journal of a voyage, in 1775, to explore the coast of America, northward of California, by the second pilot of the fleet, Don Francisco Antonio Mourelle, in the King's schooner, called the Sonora, and commanded by Don Juan Francisco de la Bodega, translated from a Spanish Mss. Hill notes that "this is the only contemporary source in English of this important voyage fitted out by the Viceroy of Mexico to explore the northwest coast of America. Mourelle served as secretary to the Viceroy, Conde de Revillagigedo, and later wrote another work relating to the voyage of the frigate Princessa to the Pacific Ocean, in 1780-81. His account was used by Captain James Cook on his third voyage." Other interesting material in this book includes Tracts on the possibility of approaching the North Pole, pp. viii, 1-124, which lays out the results of numerous inquiries addressed to whaling captains, especially those who frequented the coasts of Labrador and Greenland, as well as a biography of Mozart (with portrait of the child prodigy), essays on various British birds, etc. Hill notes that "the whole comprises a compilation of extraordinary value for the geography of the northern regions." Howes describes a separate issue of the Mourelle account, in this form, but is not sure if it preceded this compilation or not, and says only a few copies were issued. One of the maps in the work refers to the Mourelle account, drawn up by Barrington, showing the Pacific coast from Cape de Corrientes in Mexico to Cape St. Elias in Alaska. The other map is of Europe. Warren Heckrotte notes: "Barrington is well known for his espousal of the possibility of reaching the North Pole and this was his first article on the subject. The Spanish journal and map is an important record of an early Spanish voyage along the north west coast." This is the Streeter copy, with small bookplate, as well as on initialed JM. Pencil signature on title page: JaR Agar Temple March 1821.
Provenance: Parke Bernet (Streeter) 4/68
References: Hill 56; Howes M438; Lada-Mocarski 34; W-NWC 674 for map