Beschreibung:

PACIFIC] SHELVOCKE, GEORGE [CAPTAIN]. A Voyage round the World by the way of the great South Sea, perform'd in the years 1719, 20, 21 ... London: printed for J. Senex [and others], 1726. First edition. Full contemporary panelled calf, sprinkled edges. 7 7/8 x 4 7/8 inches (20 x 12.5 cm); 8vo by imposition, [8], xxxii, [4], 468 pp., with a folding map of the two hemispheres and four plates (two folding). Binding defective, with the front board detached, the rear joint cracked but holding, lacking the front free endpaper, but for all that a bright, fresh copy internally. The scarce first edition of a key 18th century Pacific voyage. Part of a 1719 expedition to loot Spanish ships on the west coast of South America, Shelvocke in the Speedwell broke away from his companion vessel, the Success under John Clipperton. After a profitable session of plunder that included the sacking of Patya, Peru, the Speedwell was wrecked on Selkirk Island. From the wreckage, a new ship, the Recovery was constructed, the first of a succession of vessels used (most were captured as Shelvocke sailed up the coast as far as Baja California). A good account of California is provided; two of the plates show native Californians, and there is a very early mention of California's gold (noted at a location called Puerto Seguro, where the ship had watered). The return voyage was made by way of Guam and Macao. Shelvocke was charged with piracy on his return to London, but acquitted. Shelvocke's second mate, Simon Hatley, shot a black albatross while they were rounding Cape Horn, and it is this episode (suggested to him by Wordsworth) that Coleridge enlarged upon in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Cowan I, pp. 211-212; Hill 1557; Howes S383; Leighly California as an Island 159; etc. Provenance: Front paste-down with the Stonor armorial bookplate C