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DALRYMPLE, Alexander (1737-1808). An Historical Collection of the Several Voyages and Discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean. London: Printed for the Author and sold by J. Nourse and T. Payne, 1769-71.
2 volumes, 4o (266 x 212 mm). Half-titles. 4 engraved folding maps (a few short tears) and 12 plates (4 folding). Contemporary blind-tooled calf (rebacked). Provenance: R. Townley Parker (bookplate).
FIRST EDITION, THE RARE AUTHOR'S ISSUE OF THE FIRST VOLUME, dated one year before the publication of the trade issue, with the dedication leaf dated 1 April and 14 May 1769. "This important collection of voyages was compiled by Dalrymple while admiralty hydrographer. The first volume contains translations from Spanish voyages beginning with Ferdinand Magellan in 1519 and ending with Pedro Fernándes de Quirós in 1606. Included is the account of Adelantado Alvaro Mendaña de Neyra's voyage to the Solomon Islands. Volume two consists of the Dutch voyages of William Schoten and Jacob Le Maire, Abel Tasman, and Jacob Roggeveen. Dalrymple was the first critical editor of discoveries in Australasia and Polynesia. This work was published to strengthen his claim of the existence of a southern continent, which was finally dispelled by Cook's second voyage. An avid mercantilist, Dalrymple theorized that the unexploited lands of the South Pacific would serve to augment England's expanding trade" (Hill 409). Brunet II:474; Sabin 18338. (2)
2 volumes, 4
FIRST EDITION, THE RARE AUTHOR'S ISSUE OF THE FIRST VOLUME, dated one year before the publication of the trade issue, with the dedication leaf dated 1 April and 14 May 1769. "This important collection of voyages was compiled by Dalrymple while admiralty hydrographer. The first volume contains translations from Spanish voyages beginning with Ferdinand Magellan in 1519 and ending with Pedro Fernándes de Quirós in 1606. Included is the account of Adelantado Alvaro Mendaña de Neyra's voyage to the Solomon Islands. Volume two consists of the Dutch voyages of William Schoten and Jacob Le Maire, Abel Tasman, and Jacob Roggeveen. Dalrymple was the first critical editor of discoveries in Australasia and Polynesia. This work was published to strengthen his claim of the existence of a southern continent, which was finally dispelled by Cook's second voyage. An avid mercantilist, Dalrymple theorized that the unexploited lands of the South Pacific would serve to augment England's expanding trade" (Hill 409). Brunet II:474; Sabin 18338. (2)