Beschreibung:

CALLANDER, JOHN]. Terra Australis Cognita: or, Voyages to the Terra Australis, or Southern Hemisphere, during the Sixteenth, Seventeenth, and Eighteenth Centuries. Edinburgh: by A. Donaldson 1766-8. With 3 engraved folding maps by T. Phinn after de Vaugondy. 3 vols., 8vo, 199 x 128 mm. (7 13/16 x 5 1/16 in.), contemporary calf, red morocco gilt-lettered spine labels, worn, upper covers detached, folding world map in vol. II with four tears, title leaf of vol. II defective with ten letters supplied in pen-and-ink, patch on title of vol. III, some leaves browned or spotted, maps offset. FIRST EDITION, so-called probable first issue of vol. I with dedication to Charles Townshend, without advertisement leaf (a4) called for by catchphrase on a3v in vol. I but with a 4-page unsigned list of advertisements for Alexander Donaldson bound following 5A5 at end of vol. III. JCB 1494; Crittenden 268; Hill, p. 367; Hocken, pp. 5-7; Sabin 10053. "The main source of this work is the French collection of voyages by Charles de Brosses, Paris, 1756" (Hill). Callander, however, proposes that Britain preempt the French intention to settle Australia with her unwanted inhabitants. In all, there are accounts of 41 voyages, including those of Magellan, Drake, Quiros, Tasman and Dampier. The variant issue of volume I contains a dedication to Sir Laurence Dundas. Some copies contain both dedications. (3)