PARKINSON. A JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH SEAS. 1773

FIRST EDITION, 4to (335 x 266mm.), engraved portrait, 27 plates, contemporary calf, full gilt spine, red label, marbled endpapers, yellow edges, minor loss to spine ends

John Smyth Esq. (1748-1811), of Heath Hall, bookplate; Franklin Brooke-Hitching, pencil initials, his sale in these rooms, 27 March 2014, lot 2014, £7,000

BCJC 712; Hill (2004) 1308; Holmes 7; Du Rietz 944; Sabin 58787

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"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."

Sydney Parkinson, a young natural history draughtsman, was recruited by Sir Joseph Banks as one of two professional artists to travel with him and Captain Cook to the South Seas in July 1768. He completed some 1300 drawings and compiled several vocabularies before he contracted malaria and dysentery at Batavia and died shortly afterwards at sea, in January 1771. After a protracted dispute involving Banks, Hawkesworth and John Fothergill, Stanfield Parkinson was finally able to publish his brother's journal shortly after the publication of Hawkesworth's own account of Cook's voyage. However, the preface, ghost-written by a Dr Kenrick, was considered by Fothergill to be so misrepresentative of Banks's actions, that he bought up all remaining copies of the edition shortly after publication. A few copies, including one in the British Library presented on 21 November 1777 contain Fothergill's "Explanatory Remarks", which is also occasionally found bound in the second edition of this work.