Description

First Collected Edition of Georg Forster’s Works: This charming set, in completely original condition, comprises the first collected edition of Forster’s works. The first volume, revised and edited by Forster himself before his death, was published in Leipzig and later reprinted in Berlin. The subsequent volumes were published in Berlin between 1794 and 1797. Some sets include the Berlin edition of the initial volume instead of the Leipzig edition.

Content and Significance: The set includes a significant selection of Forster’s shorter pieces, many relating to Pacific voyaging, reflecting his enduring interest in the region. The first essay is his important and long-overlooked memoir of Captain Cook, “Cook, der Entdecker.” Other notable essays include his 1787 article on the British Colony in New Holland, an essay on Tahiti, and another on the breadfruit, as well as articles on the red Bee-eater of Hawaii and the Northwest coast of America, accompanied by large folding maps.

Additional Interests: Forster’s essays also cover a wide range of topics, including English literature, the Comte de Volney, and his memoirs of the tumultuous year 1790. The set includes many plates, such as a portrait bust of Benjamin Franklin.