An Account of the Voyages Undertaken by the Order of His Present Majesty for Making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere, and successively performed by Commodore Byron, Captain Wallis, Captain Carteret, and Captain Cook, in the Dolphin, the Swallow, and the Endeavour

London: W. Strahan and T. Cadell, 1785. Third edition. Large folding general chart of the expedition, folding chart of the Island of Otaheite, and 9 folding plates. [lvi], 362; [10], 447; [8], 416; [6], 429, [3] pp. 4 vols. 8vo. Modern calf over marbled paper boards. Occasional foxing and minor offset, a very clean copy. Third edition. Large folding general chart of the expedition, folding chart of the Island of Otaheite, and 9 folding plates. [lvi], 362; [10], 447; [8], 416; [6], 429, [3] pp. 4 vols. 8vo. Third edition of this chronicle of important English south-seas expeditions, including Cook's monumental first voyage, which is covered in volumes (truncated) 2-4. The aim of Cook's first voyage was to sail to Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus; having done so Cook left Tahiti and discovered the Society Islands, explored New Zealand at great length, as well as the eastern coast of Australia, which he charted for 2,000 miles and named New South Wales. The expedition lasted from 1768-1771 and resulted in the annexation of both Australia and New Zealand by Britain, won Cook fame, and led to his two subsequent voyages. Beddie 665; ESTC T165111 (Inventory #: 310841)