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CAPTAIN JAMES BURNEY (1750-1821)
A Chronological History of the Discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean. Part I [- Part V. To the Year 1764]. London: Printed by Luke Hansard for G. and W. Nicol, 1803-1817. 5 volumes, 4° (310 x 245mm). Complete with 28 engraved maps, 17 folding, and 13 engraved plates, 1 folding, with 6 in-text woodcuts, as listed, uncut and unpressed. (Edges slightly soiled). 20th-century half tan morocco gilt over marbled boards, spines gilt in compartments, lettered in 2, others decorated with ship tool, top edge gilt (corners very lightly rubbed).
A FINE UNCUT FIRST EDITION of the most important general history of South Sea discoveries made before James Cook, by the commander of Discovery who brought the ship home after Cook's death in 1779. Voyages related are those of the earliest Europeans to that of Francis Drake in 1579 (vol. I), with a separate 'History of the Buccaneers of America' in vol. IV, and completed to 1764 in vol. V. Burney became a great authority on maritime history, having served the whole of his professional life in the navy and on Cook's second and third voyages. Through his access to the London literary world he collected the voyages for this work, and wrote important remarks on them which a contemporary review called 'a masterly digest of the voyages to the South Sea, displaying a rare union of nautical science and literary research'. Hill 221; Cox II, p. 497; Sabin 9387. (5)
A Chronological History of the Discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean. Part I [- Part V. To the Year 1764]. London: Printed by Luke Hansard for G. and W. Nicol, 1803-1817. 5 volumes, 4° (310 x 245mm). Complete with 28 engraved maps, 17 folding, and 13 engraved plates, 1 folding, with 6 in-text woodcuts, as listed, uncut and unpressed. (Edges slightly soiled). 20th-century half tan morocco gilt over marbled boards, spines gilt in compartments, lettered in 2, others decorated with ship tool, top edge gilt (corners very lightly rubbed).
A FINE UNCUT FIRST EDITION of the most important general history of South Sea discoveries made before James Cook, by the commander of Discovery who brought the ship home after Cook's death in 1779. Voyages related are those of the earliest Europeans to that of Francis Drake in 1579 (vol. I), with a separate 'History of the Buccaneers of America' in vol. IV, and completed to 1764 in vol. V. Burney became a great authority on maritime history, having served the whole of his professional life in the navy and on Cook's second and third voyages. Through his access to the London literary world he collected the voyages for this work, and wrote important remarks on them which a contemporary review called 'a masterly digest of the voyages to the South Sea, displaying a rare union of nautical science and literary research'. Hill 221; Cox II, p. 497; Sabin 9387. (5)
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