Beschreibung:

Title: Set of Cook’s Three Voyages, first editions, with Atlas Author: Cook, James Place: London Publisher: W. Strahan & T. Cadell, et al. Date: 1773, 1777, 1784 Description: 9 volumes including atlas. First Voyage: Cook, James. An Account of the Voyages Undertaken by the Order of His Present Majesty for Making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere, and successively performed by Commodore Byron, Captain Wallis, Captain Cartaret, and Captain Cook, in the Dolphin, the Swallow, and the Endeavour. Drawn up from the Journals which were kept by the several Commanders, and from the Papers of Joseph Banks, Esq; by John Hawksworth, LL.D. 3 volumes. [12], xxxvi, 139, [3], 363-676; xv, [1], 410; [6], [411]-779 pp. With 51 maps, charts & plates, many folding or double-page. London: Printed for W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1773. * Second Voyage: Cook, James. A Voyage Towards the South Pole, and Round the World. Performed in His Majesty's Ships the Resolution and Adventure, in the Years 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775. Written by James Cook Commander of the Resolution. In which is included, Captain Furneaux's Narrative of the Proceedings in the Adventure during the Separation of the Ships.... 2 volumes. xl, 378; [8], 396 pp. With 64 copper-engraved plates, including maps, charts, views, portraits, etc., many of them folding or double-page, most with tissue guards; folding table. London: Printed for W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1777. * Third Voyage: Cook, James and James King A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Undertaken by Command of His Majesty, for making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere. To determine the Position and Extent of the West Side of North America; its Distance from Asia; and the Practicability of a Northern Passage to Europe. Performed under the Direction of Captains Cook, Clerk, and Gore, in his Majesty's Ships the Resolution and Discovery, In the Years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, and 1780. 3 volumes + atlas. Text volumes: [10], xcvi, 421; [10], 548; [14], 564 ad pp. Illustrated with 24 copper-engraved maps, charts and profile views (13 folding) and a folding letterpress table. Atlas with 2 folding charts (of the world and of the coasts of Northwestern America and Northeastern Asia) and 61 copper-engraved plates, mostly after J. Webber. Printed by W. and A. Strahan for G. Nicol and T. Cadell, 1784. “Medallion” Issue B. Together, 3 works in 8 text volumes & 1 atlas volume. Text volumes are (4to) 11¼x8¾, early 19th century diced calf, spines tooled in gilt with sailing ship vignettes; atlas is (folio), 21¼x15¾, 20th century half calf & marbled boards, spine uniform with the text volumes. First Editions. Complete set in first edition of the three seminal voyages of the greatest of all explorers of the Pacific Ocean, culminating in his final, fruitless search for a Northwest Passage, the discovery of the Sandwich Islands, and his death at the hands of the natives of those same islands. The first voyage details his voyage to Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus, and his masterful charting of New Zealand, the east coast of Australia, etc. Presented to the world are some of the earliest descriptions and illustrations of the wonders of the Pacific, including Tahiti, the Society Islands, New Zealand, the east coast of Australia, and more. Written by John Hawkesworth from Cook's notes, but in the first person, i.e. the person of Cook. Cook was not happy with the treatment, and following his second voyage insisted on editing his own account of the expedition. The first voyage without the chart of the Strait of Magellan, nor the Directions for Placing the Cuts and Charts; these were not present in the earliest issues, as noted by Holmes. The second voyage, his search for the great Antarctic continent, was written by himself, although he left on his third voyage before the book was printed so that he was never able to see the finished product. Superbly illustrated with, in Cook's words, "about sixty copper plates, which, I am