Bligh, Captain William

bound with: Barrington, George. Memoirs of George Barrington. London: M. Smith, 1790, [ii], 91pp. [1pp. adverts], engraved frontispiece

together 2 volumes bound in one, 8vo (181 x 104mm.), contemporary calf, tear to B2 of first work with loss of a few words and with name erased from title, some spotting, binding rubbed, expertly rebacked

Hill (2004) 1825 (1978 reprint)

The condition of this lot, which is worn, is noted in some detail in the catalogue description
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The first unofficial account of the mutiny on the Bounty, published within a week of Bligh's Narrative, from which it is probably an abridgement (see lot 141). The "secret anecdotes of the Otaheitean females" are taken from Hawkesworth and were given as part of the reason for the crew's mutiny. According to the catalogue of the Parks Collection (Hordern House, no.20) these secret anecdotes are often missing, perhaps due to censorship. It seems that there were two variants of this Bentley edition, one sold by Symonds (as here) and one by Taylor and Bell, both taken from a single type-setting and having 76 pages (including the "anecdotes", which are present here), though it is not possible to establish priority between the two. Copies of this first edition are rare.

The list of the pirates and crew on pp.10-11 is annotated in a near or near contemporary hand, indicating their fate, such as "received pardon", "hanged", "acquitted", and of the crew "stoned to death" and "died of fatigue", though another hand of a similar date has added the fate of three of the pirates as "skinned alive" (Richard Skinner), "tortured" (Matthew Thompson) and "gelded" (William Brown). Skinner is however said to have been drowned, and Thompson and Brown beaten to death by natives.