Nathaniel Portlock | A voyage round the world, 1789

Nathaniel Portlock

A Voyage Round the World; but more particularly to the North-West Coast of America. London: John Stockdale and George Goulding, 1789

FIRST EDITION, 4to (292 x 228 mm.), engraved author portrait, 6 engraved folding maps, 13 engraved plates (only, of 14, lacking plate of Cinereous Lark), contemporary speckled calf, spine with raised bands in six compartments, morocco labels to second and third compartments, browning and transfer between plates and facing leaves, boards starting

Portlock, who sailed with Captain Cook on his last voyage, led this fur-trading expedition for the King George's Sound company. His ships touched at the Falkland and Hawaiian islands, as well as many points along the west coast of America, where they encountered American Indians as well as Russians, and surveyed the coast. The return journey was by way of China where they sold the furs, returning to England in 1788.

PROVENANCE:

"Matthew Lewis, Esq.r", father of Matthew Gregory (a.k.a. "Monk") Lewis, armorial bookplate; Panshanger, Hertfordshire, seat of Earls Cowper, armorial bookplate, with ink shelfmark to front pastedown ("D.R._G_2. F_2")

LITERATURE:

Forbes 177; Hill (2004) 1376; Howes P497; Lada-Mocarski 42; Sabin 64389; Staton & Tremaine 599