[34], 417, [2] pp. With 42 copper-engraved maps, charts, views, coastal profiles, etc., most folding. (4to) 27x21.5 cm (10¾x8½"), original boards, later paper spine in style of the original, old (original?) paper spine label. First Edition, subscriber's copy.
Rare, early subscriber's issue, with [12]-page list of subscribers following the dedication pages - page 319 is misnumbered 219, the plates are unnumbered and on heavy paper, indicating an early printing. This is a particularly choice copy, in the original boards, the pages untrimmed, the paper thick and remarkably clean - on many copies, there is offsetting from the text to the plates, but that has not occurred in this copy. Famous for the many engraved charts and views, but also noteworthy for the text chronicling adventure and discovery as Anson roamed the Pacific in pursuit of Spanish treasure, at which he was very successful, capturing in 1743 the Manila galleon with a treasure of £400,000 sterling, returning to England a rich and famous man. Hill comments that "This compilation has long occupied a distinguished position as a masterpiece of descriptive travel. Anson's voyage appears to have been the most popular book of maritime adventure of the eighteenth century." Cox notes that four editions came out the first year of publication, with 16 by 1781. He also comments on the "famous and unfortunate" nature of the expedition, with seven of the eight ships that set out being lost rounding Cape Horn and on the coast of Chile, and more than two thirds of the 900 men that set out from England perishing. Early ownership signature of Thom Nedham to front endpaper.
Further Notes from the Files of Warren Heckrotte
Full title: Voyage Round The World In the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV. By George Anson, Esq; Commander in Chief of a Squadron of His Majesty's Ships, sent upon an Expedition to the Sourh-Seas, Compiled From Papers and other Materials of the Right Honourable George Lord Anson, and published under his Direction, By Richard Walter, M.A. Chaplin of his Majesty's Ship the Centuraon, in that Expedition. Illustrated with Forty-Two Copper-plates. London: Printed for the Author; By John and Paul Knapton, in Ludgate Street. MDCCXLVIII.
Provenance: Butterfield & Butterfield, 12/16/96
Gasten Renard, Cat 351, 11/97, states that the first issue was smaller paper size, large paper came after (however, list of subscribers indicates those who ordered royal paper issue). Large paper copies are about 3/4 inche taller than mine. Also first issue was published without world chart. Also remarks that "uncut, clean and crisp" copies are very rare. Walter left the Centurion when is was in Macao in December 1743 and sailed back to England in a merchant ship. His account of the taking of the Spanish galleon is not as full as that of Pascoe Thomas's. G. Williams in Appendix of one of his book discusses the controversy over the authorship of this work. It seems that one Benjamin Robins contributed much to the text. Williams ends his discussion with "It is valuable... as a narrative that reflects the views of the expedition's commanding officer." I estimate the total number of subscribers to be about 1500. Of these by counting 369 ordered Royal paper copies.
References: Hill p 318. G. Williams, The Prize of All the Oceans. Cox Vol. I, p.49.