DALRYMPLE | An Historical Collection of Several Voyages. [1770] -1771. 2 volumes. The Beckford copy

Property of a Gentleman

DALRYMPLE, ALEXANDER

An Historical Collection of the Several Voyages and Discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean. London: for the Author, [1770]-1771

FIRST EDITION, volume 1 (third issue), volume 2 (part publication, see footnote), 2 volumes, 4to (264 x 200mm.), half-titles, 4 folding engraved maps and 12 plates (8 folding), contemporary tree calf, spines gilt, minor spotting,occasional minor marginal worming, ink scrawls to some leaves in volume 1, rubbed with joints splitting

THE BECKFORD COPY. "An Historical Collection was intended to stir up enthusiasm for the project of discovering and exploring the great southern continent (Terra Australis Incognita)" (Speake, Literature of Travel and Exploration, p.306). "The second volume was issued to early subscribers in two parts, the text of Roggeveen's voyage not being available for publication at first. The first part was given a temporary title-page, conjugate with an advertisement explaining the reason for the part publication" (Cook). Cook does not call for a 'Directions to Binder' leaf.

"Dalrymple's interest moved to the hypothetical southern continent in 1776 and 1777, so as to develop his knowledge of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, in order to continue his pursuit of China trade, on which he been snubbed by the East India Company in 1765 and 1766" (Cook). "An Historical Collection was intended to stir up enthusiasm for the project of discovering and exploring the great southern continent (Terra Australis Incognita)... Although most of the first volume is composed of narratives of Spanish explorers of the South Pacific, Dalrymple also included navigational information on the South Seas and the Solomon Islands, and some of his own observations of the natural curiosities of Sulu... The narrative included, among others, the voyages of Magellan, Ferdinand Grijalva, Juan Fernandes (whom Dalrymple identified as the discoverer of the great southern continent), Adelanto Alvarado Mendana de Neyras, and Pedro Fernandez de Quiroz. Dalrymple did not wish for or anticipate a British conquest of the new continent. His vision of British oceanic expansion was based on trade rather than conquest and colonization... The second volume was devoted to Dutch voyagers [and] includes accounts of the voyages of Le Mair and Schouten in 1616, Abel Janszoon Tasman in 1642, and Jacob Roggeswein in 1722" (Speake, Literature of Travel and Exploration, p.306).

LITERATURE:

Cook A11-12, volume 2; Hill (2004) 410

PROVENANCE:

Thomas Anson, armorial bookplate; The Hamilton Palace Library, Beckford Collection sale, Sotheby's London, June 30-July 13, 1882, book-label from Bernard Quaritch stating purchase; Stainforth Smith, ink stamps to half-title