(Cook, Captain James) — [Marra, John] | The first full and authentic account of Cook's second voyage

(Cook, Captain James) — [Marra, John]

Journal of the Resolution's Voyage, In 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775, on Discovery to the Southern Hemisphere... Dublin: Printed for Caleb Jenkin, 1776

Small 8vo (188 x 118 mm). Half-title, folding engraved frontispiece map; spotting to preliminaries, map adhered to a new guard. Contemporary calf; joints a little cracked, wear to foot of spine with a small patch of loss, small area of restoration to head of spine.

Second or Dublin edition, published before the official account, the first book to describe the discovery of the Antarctic continent.

While this work was published anonymously, the author was John Marra, one of the gunners' mates in the Resolution. Marra first worked for Cook on the first voyage, when Cook met the Irishman in Batavia (Indonesia). Marra provides a vivid, firsthand description of Cook’s expedition to the Southern Hemisphere, including the search for Terra Australis, encounters with indigenous peoples, and navigation through icy Antarctic waters. The present work contains events not recorded in the official account, including the preface which details the dispute between Joseph Banks and Cook that led to Banks withdrawing from the expedition.

REFERENCES:

Beddie 1271 

PROVENANCE:

F. Hobill Cole (bookplate) — Iain G. Herriot (bookplate)