History of Voyages and Discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean. First two volumes. 1803 to 1806.
In Which The Geography of the Early Accounts is examined and compared with that of Modern Navigation; especially for the purpose of settling the Situations of the Lands which have not been seen since their first Discovery. The Whole drawn up in Chronological Order, And illustrated with Charts and Other Plates. London: Printed by Luke Hansford & Sons, near Lincoln's-Inn Fields, 1803-1806.
First Edition. Hardcover. Folios. Dark cloth covered boards with black leather spines and corners. Raised bands, gilt decorations and gilt lettered titles on the spines. Reddish marbled end papers. Later bindings with reddish marbled end sheets and newer blank end sheets. A couple of tiny worm holes bottom edges in the text of volume 2. The first worm hole ends in the contents section. The second worm hole, the size of a tiny pin head, extends to page 80 lower margin. Another small worm hole located bottom edges of the appendix in back of volume 2. Volume 1 unaffected. Interior contents are clean both volumes. Small tear bottom corner of the Trinidad map volume 2. Leather sections are rubbed on the corners, outer joints, and spine of volume 2. Binding cords and thin cracks are visible in the hinges but the covers are very secure and the text blocks sturdy. Collation as follows:
Volume I: Commencing with the earliest Discovery of the South Sea by Europeans; and terminating with the Voyage of Francis Drake, in 1579: [1], xii, [8] pages (contents, errata, directions for binder), 391 pages. Illustrated with folding frontispiece titled "Chart of the Discoveries made in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean" and 4 more folding plans.
Volume II - "From the Year 1579, to the Year 1620": [2], vi, [10] pages (contents, errata), 482 pages. Volume II illustrated with floding plates, in text illustrations, and the frontispiece. There is a binder's error in placement of the illustrations. The current frontispiece is supposed to face page 385. The instructions for placement of the original frontispiece now faces page 1.
This set was expanded to five volumes with additional volumes published in 1813, 1816, and 1817. James Burney, 1750-1821, was an English Rear Admiral. He accompanied Captain Cook on his last two voyages.
Reference Howes B 1002; Sabin 9387. Good. Item #31885
Price: $3,000.00