Beschreibung:

ALEXANDER DALRYMPLE (1737-1808)
ALEXANDER DALRYMPLE (1737-1808) An Historical Collection of the Several Voyages and Discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean. London: for the Author, sold by J. Nourse, T. Payne and P. Elmsley, 1770-1771. 2 volumes, 4° (263 x 202mm.). Letterpress including half-titles and 3pp. errata at the end of vol.I. 4 folding engraved maps, 12 plates (8 folding). (Without title to vol.II and the 'Contents ... Directions for placing the plates' leaf, text leaves G4, N4 and Y1 and the 3rd map in vol.I with recent ink scribbles on verso, some light marginal worming.) Contemporary tree calf, spines gilt with red and black morocco lettering pieces (spines scuffed and chipped; joints split). Provenance : Thomas Anson (armorial bookplates); Bernard Quaritch (book-label noting that the books were bought at the Hamilton Palace Library. Beckford collections, June-July 1882); Stainforth Smith (ink stamps on half-title). A FINE COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION OF THIS IMPORTANT WORK, WITH AN IMPORTANT PROVENANCE: the Beckford-Hamilton Palace copy. As Dalrymple remarks in the preface to vol.I, the collection 'is almost entirely a literal translation' (p.x) of Spanish and Dutch accounts of voyages in the South Pacific with particular reference to the existence of a Southern Continent. Pedro Fernandez de Quiros' account of the discovery of 'Australia del Espiritu Santo' in 1605-6, figures prominently. Dalrymple, the Hydrographer to the East India Company, was a rival to Captain James Cook for the position of leader of the expedition aboard the Endeavour to find 'Terra Australis'. The present work was published whilst Cook was away and led to Dalrymple's election to the Royal Society. The work is a valuable summation of all the published information then available about the southern Pacific: its usefulness can be guaged by the fact that it was one of a select number of works that Cook chose to take with him on his second voyage. Hill p.73; Sabin 18338; Spence 335. (2)