A Voyage Of Discovery To The North Pacific Ocean, And Round The World…

London: Printed For John Stockdale, 1801. Second (First Octavo) Edition, of the official account of “the most important [voyage] ever made in the interests of geographical knowledge.” (Hill) Vancouver set sail for Nootka Sound on the first of April, 1791, charged by the British government with three tasks: firstly, to take formal possession, according to the terms of the Nootka Sound Convention, of the territory seized there by Spain, secondly, to conduct an accurate survey of the coast northwards from the 30th degree of north latitude, and thirdly, to search for a possible passage to the Atlantic. The expedition took five years to accomplish. Vancouver sailed westward by way of Cape of Good Hope, visited and conducted important surveys of the southwest coast of Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, and the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands before he reached his destination. During the next three seasons, he systematically investigated the Pacific coastline from San Francisco to Cook’s Inlet, explored the Straits of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound, discovered the Gulf of Georgia, and circumnavigated the island since known by his name – Vancouver Island. His charts of certain portions of the northwest coast are the eariest and most accurate produced. His researches decisively proved that no passage existed between the Pacific and Hudson’s Bay. Cox II 30-31. Ferguson 339. Hill p. 304. Howes V-23. Sabin 98444. Smith 10470. Strathern 582 (i). cfBell V18. cfCowan II 655. cfGraff 4456. cfLada-Mocarski 55. cfLande 1495. cfStreeter VI 3497. cfTPL 688. cfZamorano Eighty 77. 6 Volumes. 8vo. pp. 410 [i.e. 406, pp. 29-32 omitted in pagination; 1 p.l., 418; 1 p.l., 435; 1 p.l., 417; 1 p.l., 454; ` p.l., 412, [2]ads. 2 folding engraved maps & 17 folding plates engraved by Landseer, Pouncy, & Fittler after W. Alexander, from sketches made "on the spot" by Sykes, Heddington, & others. contemporary tree calf, gilt backs, Vol. 1 rebacked with spine mounted, joints of other vols. cracked & some weak, some chipping to spine ends & wear to corners)