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BURNEY, James (1750-1821). A Chronological History of the Discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean. London: Printed by Luke Hansard for G. and W. Nicol, 1803-1817.
A fine, uncut first edition of the most important general history of South Sea discoveries made before those of James Cook. The author was 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'. Cox II, p. 497; Howes B-1002; Hill 221; Sabin 9387.
Five volumes, quarto (310 x 245mm). 28 engraved maps, 17 folding, and 13 engraved plates, one folding, with 6 in-text woodcuts, as listed, uncut and unpressed (minor toning/soiling to edges, few spots). Modern half morocco gilt-ruled over marbled boards, spines gilt in compartments with ship tool, top edges gilt (corners very lightly rubbed). Provenance: few instances of early annotations – P.R. Sandwell (bookplates; his sale, Christie's 21 September 2005, lot 65).
A fine, uncut first edition of the most important general history of South Sea discoveries made before those of James Cook. The author was 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'. Cox II, p. 497; Howes B-1002; Hill 221; Sabin 9387.
Five volumes, quarto (310 x 245mm). 28 engraved maps, 17 folding, and 13 engraved plates, one folding, with 6 in-text woodcuts, as listed, uncut and unpressed (minor toning/soiling to edges, few spots). Modern half morocco gilt-ruled over marbled boards, spines gilt in compartments with ship tool, top edges gilt (corners very lightly rubbed). Provenance: few instances of early annotations – P.R. Sandwell (bookplates; his sale, Christie's 21 September 2005, lot 65).