MBA004: Lot 69. PHILLIPS, Richard.

Rare. Complete Set of the first series of 54 travel accounts selected and edited by Phillips and first issued in monthly parts, here with the general- and part-titles to each volume. Complete sets are seldom found.

The collection is notable for containing first editions in English of many famous contemporary voyages and travels. The set includes Tuckey’s voyage to New South Wales, Sarychev’s voyage to the Arctic, Johnson’s voyage in the Caroline to India and China, Helms’ travels to Lima, Peron’s voyage of discovery, de Pons’ voyage to the Spanish Main, and Lewis and Clark’s expedition.

Description

11 volumes, 8vo., (21.5cm) 17 engraved maps (of which 14 are folding), 82 plates (of which 39 are folding and 6 hand-coloured); occasional light browning, offsetting and spotting, a few plates have fold tears or spotting, lower outer corner of folding plate at 5:14 torn entering image, occasional clean tear in a folding table or map, a few pages in vol. 8 heavily spotted, some browning in vol 11. Contemporary half diced Russia gilt over marbled boards, spines panelled in blind, marbled edges.

Provenance

Viscount Doneraile (inscriptions on most titles, 1786-1854).

Bibliography

Ferguson 405; Hill 1349 (‘complete sets are rarely found’); Sabin 62506 (‘often found incomplete’).