(Darwin, Charles) — John MacDouall | The Brooke-Hitching copy of a rare first-hand account

(Darwin, Charles) — John MacDouall

Narrative of a voyage to Patagonia and Terra del Fuego, through the Straits of Magellan, in H.M.S. Adventure and Beagle, in 1826 and 1827. London: Renshaw and Rush, 1833

Small 8vo (166 x 100 mm). Lithographed frontispiece; foxing to frontis, title, and final leaves, a few stray spots. Original green patterned cloth, printed paper label to spine; label slightly chipped, rubbing to extremities, joints starting. Housed in custom slipcase.

First edition—the Brooke-Hitching copy.

A rare first-hand account of the first of the Beagle surveying voyages. The author obtained permission from Captain Stokes to leave the Beagle to return to England on 21 December 1827. The following year Stokes committed suicide, which set in motion the events by which Darwin was himself to join the Beagle.

Rare. Our records show only one other copy having passed through the rooms in over 70 years.

PROVENANCE:

Franklin Brooke-Hitching (initials to front free endpaper — his sale, Sotheby's London, 30 September 2014, lot 374, £4,000)