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66. [RICKMAN
John]. Journal of Captain Cook's last Voyage to the Pacific Ocean
on Discovery;
John]. Journal of Captain Cook's last Voyage to the Pacific Ocean
on Discovery; - 2
66. [RICKMAN
John]. Journal of Captain Cook's last Voyage to the Pacific Ocean
on Discovery;
John]. Journal of Captain Cook's last Voyage to the Pacific Ocean
on Discovery; - 2

Lot 66. [RICKMAN, John].

Journal of Captain Cook's last Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, on Discovery;

£2500 - £3500

Journal of Captain Cook’s last Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, on Discovery; 98335
performed in the years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, illustrated with Cuts, and a Chart, shewing the Tracts of the Ships employed in this Expedition. Faithfully narrated from the original MS.
London, E. Newbery, 1781

First edition of the ‘first full account in English of Cook’s Third Voyage, published anonymously to avoid legal action by the Admiralty’ (Forbes). From the library of the naturalist and scientist William Constable (1721-1791) of Burton Constable Hall in East Yorkshire. ‘… once believed to be written by John Ledyard, who had actually made liberal use of Lieutenant Rickman’s account in his own narrative [cf. lot 304]… it anticipated the government’s authorised account by two years. All the journals kept on board were claimed by the Admiralty, thus the author remained strictly anonymous. The text, especially as regards details of Cook’s death, differs considerably from other accounts’ (Hill).

First edition, 8vo, [iv], xlvi, 388 pp., folding engraved frontispiece, folding engraved map, 4 engraved plates (of which one folding), contemporary calf, gilt spine, red label, plates slightly offset, rebacked preserving spine, a very good copy.

[Beddie, 1607; Forbes, 33; Hill, 1453; Holmes, 38; Howes, 276; Lada-Mocarski, 32; Sabin, 36707; Streeter, 3474.]

Wm. Constable FRS & FAS (armorial bookplate); Herman Milford (inscription dated 4/12/90).