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(COOK, James) ANDERSON, George William.
A New, Authentic, and Complete Account of Voyages Round the World,
Performed by Royal Authority. Containing a Complete Historical Account of Captain Cook's First, Second, Third and Last Voyages, undertaken for making New Discoveries …The Whole comprehending a Full Account of whatever is Curious, Entertaining, and Useful, both by Sea and Land, in the Various Countries of the World. This Edition compiled from Authentic Journals of Several Principal Officers and other Gentlemen of the most Distinguished Naval and Philosophical Abilities, who sailed in the Various Ships.
Publisher: London, A. Millar, W. Law, and R. Cater, 1790
Stock code: 46870
Price: £3,750 Currency Conversion
First large octavo edition of this omnibus compilation of Cook, Byron, Wallis, Carteret, Mulgrave, Anson and Drake. Originally published in folio (1784-6) in 80 sixpenny parts with avowedly philanthropic intentions, Hogg's edition certainly did much to disseminate knowledge of Cook's discoveries: "by the Publication of this Genuine and Complete Collection of the Whole of Captain Cook's Voyages &c. in Octavo, all Ranks of Persons whatever may be accommodated, and the Public Curiosity, so naturally excited by the Report of such Extraordinary Voyages and Discoveries, will be immediately and cheaply gratified. - The Poor as well as the Rich will thus become familiarly acquainted with these extraordinary and important Voyages and Discoveries, in the Performance and Prosecution of which such vast Sums of Pubic Money have been expended" (Publisher's Preface). Described by Hill as "An important collection of English voyages... [which] sometimes gives the original accounts, others are edited or abridged versions, and frequently additional material from other sources are added to give scope and depth to the narratives". George William Anderson is almost certainly a pseudonym.
6 volumes, octavo (212 × 122 mm) contemporary sprinkled calf, rebacked, tan and green morocco labels. 129 engraved plates and maps, 65 of them folding. Contemporary ownership inscriptions of S[tephen] Skurray, gentleman of Beckington, Somerset. A little rubbed, light browning, but overall a pleasing set.
