SPARRMAN, ANDREW. 'A VOYAGE TO THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, TOWARDS THE ANTARCTIC POLAR CIRCLE, AND ROUND THE WORLD'. LONDON: G.G.J. AND J. ROBINSON, 1785

2 volumes, 4to (11 x 8 3/8 in.; 280 x 213mm). Folding engraved map, 10 engraved plates; minor foxing, some toning to margins, ink stain to p. 274 (vol. I), small hole to S_S (vol. I) with loss of one letter, closed marginal tear to folding map. Full tree calf, covers with decorative gilt borders, spines with raised bands in six compartments, second and third with gilt-lettered red and green labels, others with repeat overall decoration in gilt, inner dentelles gilt, marbled endpapers; rebacked to style, edges rubbed, front free endpaper detached (vol. I).

BCJC 1276; Rosove 316.A.1; Holmes 54; Hill (2004) 1615

2 volumes, 4to (11 x 8 3/8 in.; 280 x 213mm). Folding engraved map, 10 engraved plates; minor foxing, some toning to margins, ink stain to p. 274 (vol. I), small hole to SS (vol. I) with loss of one letter, closed marginal tear to folding map. Full tree calf, covers with decorative gilt borders, spines with raised bands in six compartments, second and third with gilt-lettered red and green labels, others with repeat overall decoration in gilt, inner dentelles gilt, marbled endpapers; rebacked to style, edges rubbed, front free endpaper detached (vol. I).
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First edition in English of Sparrman's account of Cook's second voyage. The work describes his travels inland from the settlement at the Cape of Good Hope and as an assistant to naturalist Johann Forster on board the Resolution between September 1772 and March 1775. Sparrman's account includes a number of details which are not mentioned elsewhere, and the bulk of the narrative focuses on South Africa, including an appendix on the language of the Hottentots. "The author...makes allusions to the cruelty of the treatment of the slaves by the lower classes of the colonists. He frequently draws attention to the inaccuracies to be met with in Kolbe's account of the Cape and throws considerable doubt on the veracity of many of his statements" (Mendelssohn, [1957], II:414).