Beschreibung:

Cook, Capt. James, and Captain James KingA Voyage to the Pacific Ocean...for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere. Performed under the Direction of Captains Cook, Clerke, and Gore, in His Majesty's Ships the Resolution and Discovery; in the Years 1776 through 1780. London: H. Hughs for G. Nicol, and T. Cadell, 1785 3 text volumes (316 x 248 mm), and 1 atlas volume (575 mm x 425 mm). Text: final blank 4H4 in Vol. I, 1 folding letterpress table, uncut. Contemporary blue-gray paper-covered boards, spines with raised bands in seven compartments, red morocco lettering-pieces to second and dark green-blue morocco to third, others with repeat pattern in gilt, edges uncut; rebacked to style in 18th-century diced Russia. Atlas: 87 engraved plates, plans and maps, one of which folding, one double-page, and plate LXXXII a proof before the addition of the plate number which is added in ink in a contemporary manuscript hand, the larger plates uncut at outer and lower margins, the smaller plates completely uncut and unfolded. Blue-gray paper-covered boards, spine with raised bands in eight compartments, lettering-pieces and repeat decoration in gilt, top edge gilt; rebacked to style with 18th-century diced Russia. An original set of the second—and arguably best—edition of the text, with the plates in their most desirable form "The famous accounts of Captain Cook's three 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 had done together. He was really the first scientific navigator and his voyages made great contributions to many fields of knowledge" (Hill). The typography of the second edition of the text of the third voyage is generally considered superior to the first. For the second and subsequent editions, Hughes took over the printing from Strahan and re-set the text. Contemporary support for this view is reported by Forbes who quotes an inscription in a set presented by Mrs. Cook to her doctor, Dr. Elliotson, which notes "the letter press of the second edition being much superior to the first both in paper & letter press." Of great rarity and significance are the presence of the plates usually found in the text volume, here unfolded and bound into the atlas. Such sets are often more desirable, as the plates may be enjoyed more fully without the usual folds and losses from irregular trimming by the binder. REFERENCEBeddie 1552; Forbes 85; cf. Sabin 16250Condition reportCondition as described in catalogue entry. The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The