Lot 32. FORSTER, Georg; Johann Reinhold FORSTER.

First edition of the first published account of Cook’s Second Voyage, bound uniformly with the Observations. ‘An important and necessary addition to Cook’s voyages’ (Hill). The author and his father, Johann Reinhold Forster, sailed as naturalists on the Resolution. During this Second Voyage Cook made the first crossing of the Antarctic Circle, discovered the South Sandwich Islands and dispelled the idea of a great southern continent. Although originally it was intended that the elder Forster would write the official account of the voyage, a dispute with the Admiralty arose over payment and this unofficial account written by father and son was issued in March 1777 under the son’s name, some six weeks before Cook’s official account of the voyage. ‘For all the controversy A Voyage round the World is an interesting and important account that complements the official one with facts and astute observations on the human side of the voyage’ (Rosove). The Observations were originally intended to accompany the official account of Cook’s Second Voyage. The account of the voyage itself is therefore short, and the majority of the text relates to the scientific work of the voyage, including the comparative ethnographic observations and findings that Forster made in the South Seas. As part of his ethnographic studies he made detailed notes of the ‘human species’, giving information on the food, cannibalism, populations, status of women, customs, languages, and mythology, as well as recording the health and diseases of the islands. The final section ‘presents a detailed evaluation of steps taken for the preservation of health on the voyage, notably the suggestions of James Lind on the treatment of scurvy’ (Hill). The rare Chart Representing the Isles of the South Seas, found here but not present in all copies, is based on a sketch drawn for Captain Cook by Tupaia, a Tahitian priest and navigator.

First editions of both works, together 3 vols, 4to, I: 2 vols, large folding engraved map as frontispiece to vol. I, with errata slip to vol. I bound at rear; some light foxing; II: large folding letterpress comparative table of South Sea languages, with subscribers’ list and errata; occasional light foxing. Uniformly bound in contemporary russia, covers with wide gilt borders, spines in six compartments, morocco lettering piece to second, numbering piece to fourth, others richly gilt, gilt dividers, all edges gilt, all vols rebacked preserving spines, labels renewed in second work, a very attractive set.

[I: Hill, 625; Beddie, 1248; Kroepelien, 450; Sabin, 25134. II: Hill, 628; Beddie, 1262; Kroepelien, 456; Hocken, p.18; Sabin, 25140; Rosove, 140. ]