Details
PHILIPS, John (fl. 1740). An Authentic Journal of the Late Expedition Under the Command of Commodore Anson. London: for J. Robinson, 1744.
8o (198 x 124 mm). (C5 with tear affecting some letters, signature Ii mis-signed Hh, some soiling.) Contemporary panelled calf (repaired at joints and extremities). Provenance: John Moor (contemporary ownership signature on title-page); William Baston (contemporary ownership signature on title-page); ink marginalia throughout.
FIRST EDITION of the first book-length account of the Anson expedition. It's likely that the name of the author, John Philips, is a pseudonym, as it is pointed out by A. Grove Day in his Pacific Islands Literature: One Hundred Basic Books that no such name existed on the ship's muster. The most probable reason for the assumed name is that this narrative includes a full account of the journey to England of the mutinous sailors from the Wager. The story is provided by John Bulkeley, the ring-leader of the mutiny, whose court martial was still being debated at the time of publication. An official account of the Centurion's journey was not published until 1748, which neglects to include some of the information contained in this work and only touches on the events aboard the Wager. Hill 1344; Sabin 62458.
8
FIRST EDITION of the first book-length account of the Anson expedition. It's likely that the name of the author, John Philips, is a pseudonym, as it is pointed out by A. Grove Day in his Pacific Islands Literature: One Hundred Basic Books that no such name existed on the ship's muster. The most probable reason for the assumed name is that this narrative includes a full account of the journey to England of the mutinous sailors from the Wager. The story is provided by John Bulkeley, the ring-leader of the mutiny, whose court martial was still being debated at the time of publication. An official account of the Centurion's journey was not published until 1748, which neglects to include some of the information contained in this work and only touches on the events aboard the Wager. Hill 1344; Sabin 62458.