- 135
Cook, Captain James.
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- A set of first editions of the three voyages, 1773-1784, 9 volumes, comprising:
- paper
Hawkesworth, John. An Account of the Voyages undertaken... for making discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere... by Commodore Byron, Captain Wallis, Captain Carteret and Captain Cook. London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1773, 3 volumes, 52 engraved maps, charts and plates (including Streight of Magellan, which is sometimes lacking), a number folding or double-page, 2 additional plates (a map "Chart of the South Pacific Ocean pointing out the discoveries made therein previous to 1764" and a portrait (mounted) of Hawkesworth), volume 1 with printed "Directions for placing the cuts and charts", plates at p.605 vol.1 and p.185 vol.2 mounted
Cook, Capt. J. A Voyage towards the South Pole and round the World. London: Strahan and Cadell, 1777, 2 volumes, engraved portrait and 63 plates, maps and charts, some double-page
Cook, Capt. J. and Capt. James King. A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean... for making discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere. London: Nicol and Cadell, 1784, 3 volumes text and atlas, together 4 volumes, 86 (of 87) plates and 2 additional portraits of Cook and King which are not called for, text: engraved medallions on title of each volume, 2 engraved portraits and 23 (of 24) maps and charts, some folding, one folding printed table, atlas: folio (525 x 370mm.), 2 engraved folding maps and 61 plates, lacking one plate "Views on the coast of Kamtschatka" in vol.3, p.313, one map in atlas with repairs
First editions, together 9 volumes, 4to (295 x 225mm.), with 4 additional plates not called for, some folding or double-page plates mounted on guards, text in contemporary diced russia gilt, spines gilt with sailing ships and red morocco label with royal cipher, atlas in modern diced calf to match, lacking one plate (see above), some spotting and offsetting, bindings rebacked retaining original spines
Cook, Capt. J. A Voyage towards the South Pole and round the World. London: Strahan and Cadell, 1777, 2 volumes, engraved portrait and 63 plates, maps and charts, some double-page
Cook, Capt. J. and Capt. James King. A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean... for making discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere. London: Nicol and Cadell, 1784, 3 volumes text and atlas, together 4 volumes, 86 (of 87) plates and 2 additional portraits of Cook and King which are not called for, text: engraved medallions on title of each volume, 2 engraved portraits and 23 (of 24) maps and charts, some folding, one folding printed table, atlas: folio (525 x 370mm.), 2 engraved folding maps and 61 plates, lacking one plate "Views on the coast of Kamtschatka" in vol.3, p.313, one map in atlas with repairs
First editions, together 9 volumes, 4to (295 x 225mm.), with 4 additional plates not called for, some folding or double-page plates mounted on guards, text in contemporary diced russia gilt, spines gilt with sailing ships and red morocco label with royal cipher, atlas in modern diced calf to match, lacking one plate (see above), some spotting and offsetting, bindings rebacked retaining original spines
Literature
BCJC 648, 1216, 1544; Hill 782, 358, 361; Sabin 30934, 16245, 16250
Catalogue Note
From the library of Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales (1796-1817), only child of the Prince Regent, and at the time, heir presumptive to the English throne. The first volume of each voyage is inscribed in the same hand noting the presentation of these volumes to Princess Charlotte on her birthday on 7 January 1813. The first was apparently presented to her by the Bishop of Salisbury, a guardian, the others by the Duchess of Brunswick, her great aunt. This joint presentation may be accounted for by the highly restricted circle, alienated from her parents, within which the princess existed.