George Vancouver | A Voyage of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and Round the World, London, 1798, first edition, 4 volumes (3 text and an atlas)

George Vancouver

A voyage of discovery to the North Pacific Ocean, and round the world; in which the coast of North-West America has been carefully examined and accurately surveyed. London: printed for G.G. and J. Robinson, 1798

FIRST EDITION, 4 volumes, comprising: 3 text volumes, 4to (296 x 226mm) and one atlas volume, folio (541 x 424mm), text volumes: half-titles, engraved map and 17 plates; atlas volume: 10 folding maps, 6 coastal views, together 34 engraved maps and plates, text volumes bound in contemporary tree calf gilt, rebacked to style; atlas volume bound in modern half calf gilt over marbled boards, slight marginal dampstaining to folio volume and first few leaves of volume one, occasional scattered spotting not affecting text, endleaves renewed

"Vancouver, who had served on Captain Cook's second and third voyages, was made commander of a grand-scale expedition to reclaim Britain's rights, resulting from the Nootka Convention, at Nootka Sound, to examine thoroughly the coast south of 60° in order to find a possible passage to the Atlantic, and to learn what establishments had been founded by other powers. This voyage became one of the most important ever made in the interests of geographical knowledge. Vancouver sailed by way of the Cape of Good Hope to Australia, where he discovered King George's sound and Cape Hood, then to New Zealand, Hawaii, and the northwest coast of America. In three seasons' work Vancouver surveyed the coast of California, visited San Francisco and San Diego and other Spanish settlements in Alta California... investigated the Strait of Juan de Fuca, discovered the Strait of Georgia, circumnavigated Vancouver Island, and disproved the existence of any passage between the Pacific and Hudson Bay'' (Hill).

LITERATURE:

Bagnall 5702; Ferguson 281; Forbes 298; Hill (2004) 1753; Howes V23; Lada-Mocarski, 55; Sabin 98443; Staton & Tremaine 688