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NARBROUGH, Sir John (1640-1688), and others. An Account of Several Late Voyages & Discoveries to the South and North. Towards the Streights of Magellan, the South Seas, the vast Tracts of Land beyond Hollandia Nova, &c. Also towards Nova Zembla, Greenland or Spitsberg, Groynland or Engrondland, &c. By Sir John Narborough, Captain Jasmen Tasman, Captain John Wood, and Frederick Marten of Hamburgh. To which are Annexed a Large Introduction and Supplement giving an Account of other Navigations to those Regions of the Globe. London: Samuel Smith and Benjamin Walford, 1694.
8o (188 x 118 mm). Title printed in red and black. 2 engraved folding maps, 19 engraved plates (7 folding) (first gathering loose, c4 with internal c6 with short marginal tear, short tear to folding map). Contemporary calf (rebacked). Provenance: John Pitt, probably the brother of the statesman William Pitt (notation on verso of title); A&EY (bookplate); José M. Rodriguez (bookplate).
FIRST EDITION of this important work, describing four voyages, Narbrough to the South Seas, Tasman, to the "South Terra Incognita," Wood, in search of the northeast passage to Japan and China, and Martens's voyage to Greenland and the Arctic. This work is of "the greatest importance to an Australian collection, as it contains one of the earliest accounts of Abel Janszoon Tasman's famous voyage of 1642 from Batavia, in which he discovered Tasmania and New Zealand and visited Tonga and Fiji" (Hill). Hill also notes that the work is of "particular interest because of its description of Narborough's passage in the Batchelour through the Straits of Magellan and into the South Pacific to Chile, which was much read by later navigators. John Bulkeley and John Cummins with the Wager survivors used this work for their navigation of the passage." The editor (probably Sir Tancred Robinson), in a lengthy and useful introduction, records in outline a number of the early voyages, gives a resumé of the journeys covered in the work and ends with a plea for the English to embark on a program of scientific exploration of the globe. ''Tis to be lamented, that the English nation have not sent with their Navigators, some skilful Painters, Naturalists, and Mechanists, under publick Stipends and Encouragement as the Dutch and French have done... much to their Honour as well as Advantage" (quoted from the introduction). Alden & Landis 694/155; Hill 1475; Sabin 72185; Wing N-154.
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FIRST EDITION of this important work, describing four voyages, Narbrough to the South Seas, Tasman, to the "South Terra Incognita," Wood, in search of the northeast passage to Japan and China, and Martens's voyage to Greenland and the Arctic. This work is of "the greatest importance to an Australian collection, as it contains one of the earliest accounts of Abel Janszoon Tasman's famous voyage of 1642 from Batavia, in which he discovered Tasmania and New Zealand and visited Tonga and Fiji" (Hill). Hill also notes that the work is of "particular interest because of its description of Narborough's passage in the Batchelour through the Straits of Magellan and into the South Pacific to Chile, which was much read by later navigators. John Bulkeley and John Cummins with the Wager survivors used this work for their navigation of the passage." The editor (probably Sir Tancred Robinson), in a lengthy and useful introduction, records in outline a number of the early voyages, gives a resumé of the journeys covered in the work and ends with a plea for the English to embark on a program of scientific exploration of the globe. ''Tis to be lamented, that the English nation have not sent with their Navigators, some skilful Painters, Naturalists, and Mechanists, under publick Stipends and Encouragement as the Dutch and French have done... much to their Honour as well as Advantage" (quoted from the introduction). Alden & Landis 694/155; Hill 1475; Sabin 72185; Wing N-154.