ANSON, George (1697-1762). A Voyage around the World in the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV, compiled and published by Richard Walter, London, printed for the author by John and Paul Knapton, 1748, 4°, FIRST EDITION, folding engraved frontispiece map, 29 folding engraved plates and 13 folding maps, plans and charts (occasional light spotting, a few short tears), contemporary diced calf gilt, spine gilt in compartments, contrasting lettering-piece (front joints cracked but cords holding, lower rear joint cracked, slight wear to spine). [Cox I, p. 49; Sabin 1625]

Details

ANSON, George (1697-1762). A Voyage around the World in the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV, compiled and published by Richard Walter, London, printed for the author by John and Paul Knapton, 1748, 4°, FIRST EDITION, folding engraved frontispiece map, 29 folding engraved plates and 13 folding maps, plans and charts (occasional light spotting, a few short tears), contemporary diced calf gilt, spine gilt in compartments, contrasting lettering-piece (front joints cracked but cords holding, lower rear joint cracked, slight wear to spine). [Cox I, p. 49; Sabin 1625]

Provenance

J. Letherland M.D., inscription to verso of title; compiler's name to the title scored and substituted with Mr. Benjamin Robins F.R.S. [the work was sometimes attributed to Robins instead of Walter, but "there seems to be no decisive evidence for Robins' claim" (Cox)]; bookplates of the Rev. Sir John Cullum Bart., Hardwick House, Suffolk and of Philip Metcalfe.

Lot Essay

The genuine first edition of this work, printed for the author -- the second issue was printed for the publisher's. Commodore George Anson had sailed from St. Helens on September 18th, 1740, with a squadron of eight ships with orders to harass the Spaniards in the South Pacific. His greatest victory came on June 20th, 1743, when he captured the giant galleon Nostra Seigniore de Cavandonga, 600 men and a fortune in gold coins and virgin silver. The galleon was sold in Macao and Anson sailed home with his one remaining ship the Centurion, dropping anchor off Spithead after an absence of nearly four years. Spain's grip on the Pacific was loosened. Thirty two wagons carried his booty in triumph to London. Anson's reputation, and his fortune, were made. However, the toll of life from bad weather and disease as well as battle had been enormous. Of the 961 crew of three ships, 626 had died from scurvy.

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