A Voyage Round The World, In His Britannic Majesty’s Sloop, Resolution, commanded by Capt. James Cook, during the Years 1772, 3, 4, and 5

London: Printed for B.White, J.Robson, P.Elmsly, and G.Robinson, 1777., 1777. 2 Volumes. 4to. pp. xviii, [2], 602; 2 p.l., 607. without the errata leaf at the end of Vol. I. folding engraved map (frontis.). An attractive set in contemporary sprinkled calf, neatly rebacked, corners renewed, spines tooled in gilt (Vol. I title-leaf professionally remargined at lower edge & upper outer corner with small repair, marginal repair to GG2-3 affecting part of headline, occasional spotting). First Edition of this important account of Cooks second voyage, which preceded the publication of the official record by some six weeks. The author and his father, Johann Reinhold, served as naturalists on the expedition. While the elder Forster was originally to have written the account, he was forbidden to do so because of a dispute with the Admiralty concerning his emoluments. It is based on his journal and also draws from Cooks own although no acknowledgement is given. Humboldt said that he was indebted to this work more so than to any other for his early love of nature and tropical beauty. On his second, and historically most important voyage, Cook determined that the Terra Australis Incognita, which supposedly lay between New Zealand and South America did not exist, and accomplished the first crossing of the Antarctic Circle. Cook revisited New Zealand, and discovered, or re-explored and charted many of the islands in the Pacific, including Easter Island, the Marquesas, Tahita and the Society Islands, the Tonga Islands, the New Hebrides, and New Caledonia. A vast amount of scientific and ethnographical information was gathered, and as a result of new techniques developed by Cook, not one crew member on the voyage died from scurvy, a remarkable achievement for the time and for which Cook was awarded the Copley gold medal. Beddie 1247. Cox I p. 60. Hill p. 108. Hocken pp. 16-17. Holmes 23. Kroepelien 450. OReilly-Reitman 382. Sabin 25140. Spence 464.. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Very Good.