Description

Overview: The full series of official narratives of Captain Cook’s three voyages forms the cornerstone of any collection related to Australia or the Pacific. These narratives, illustrated with marvelous engravings by official artists like Parkinson, Hodges, and Webber, stand as monumental records of Cook’s achievements. The first editions were best-sellers, expensive at the time, and sold out within days, making good uniform sets of the voyages scarce today.

Components of the Set:

1. First Voyage:
   • Title: An Account of the Voyages… for making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere
   • Editor: John Hawkesworth
   • Publication: London, Strahan and Cadell, 1773
   • Description: Three volumes, quarto, with 51 engraved plates and maps. This compendium includes Cook’s first voyage, during which he charted the east coast of Australia. The work was controversial due to Hawkesworth’s editing but contains detailed accounts of exploration and significant engravings like the first depiction of a kangaroo.
2. Second Voyage:
   • Title: A Voyage towards the South Pole, and Round the World
   • Author: James Cook
   • Publication: London, Strahan and Cadell, 1777
   • Description: Two volumes, quarto, with 64 engraved plates and maps. This official account, prepared by Cook himself, documents the historically significant voyage during which the Antarctic Circle was crossed for the first time. The superb engravings by Hodges illustrate the journey.
3. Third Voyage:
   • Title: A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Undertaken by Command of his Majesty, for making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere
   • Authors: James Cook and James King
   • Publication: London, H. Hughs for Nicol and Cadell, 1785
   • Description: Three volumes, quarto, with 24 engraved maps and coastal profiles, and a separate folio atlas with two charts and 62 engraved plates. The second edition of this account is preferred for its superior typography and includes engraved vignettes. It documents Cook’s final voyage and his eventual murder in Hawaii.

Significance: This set is highly desirable for its historical and illustrative value. It provides detailed narratives of Cook’s voyages, which were eagerly awaited by the public. The engravings and maps offer visual documentation of the expeditions, making the series an important part of eighteenth-century exploration literature.