Beschreibung:

Title: A Voyage Around the World, in the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV. By George Anson, Esq; Commander in Chief of a Squadron of His Majesty's Ships, sent upon an Expedition to the South-Seas Author: Anson, George Place London Publisher: Printed for John and Paul Knapton Date: 1748 Description: Compiled from Papers and Materials of the Right Honourable George Lord Anson, and published under his Direction, by Richard Walter, M.A., Chaplain of his Majesty's Ship the Centurion, in that Expedition. [24], 548 pp. With 3 folding copper-engraved charts. (8vo) 8x4¾, period calf, rebacked with later calf, leather spine label. Second Edition. Second edition of Anson's famous account chronicling adventure and discovery as Anson roamed the Pacific in pursuit of Spanish treasure, at which he was very successful, capturing in 1743 the Manila galleon with a treasure of £400,000 sterling, returning to England a rich and famous man. Hill comments that "This compilation has long occupied a distinguished position as a masterpiece of descriptive travel. Anson's voyage appears to have been the most popular book of maritime adventure of the eighteenth century." Cox notes that four editions came out the first year of publication, with 16 by 1781. He also comments on the "famous and unfortunate" nature of the expedition, with seven of the eight ships that set out being lost rounding Cape Horn and on the coast of Chile, and more than two thirds of the 900 men that set out from England perishing. With folding frontispiece chart of the world, with California depicted as an island (this has a short stub tear); chart of the southern portion of South America (with 6" tear); and one of a portion of the Pacific (with repaired tear). Cox Vol. I, p.49 (1st Ed.); Hill Pacific Voyages (2nd ed) 1818. Lot Amendments Condition: Some scuffing and shelf wear to covers; moderate soiling and aging to contents, small hole in lower portion of final text leaf affecting a few words, else very good. Item number: 168453