Journal du second voyage du Capitaine Cook, sur les vaissaux la Résolution & l'Aventure; entrepris par ordre de S.M. Britannique, dans les années 1774 &1775
Amsterdam, et se trouve à Paris, Pissot and Nyon, 1777.
Octavo, [iv], xx, 546 pages plus a large folding map of the Southern Hemisphere showing the route of the voyage (198 × 555 mm).
Early mottled full calf; spine gilt in compartments with a contrasting morocco title-label; edges coloured red; covers a little bumped and worn at the extremities (with the headcap missing); joints a little cracked (but firm); a few gatherings a little tanned; occasional light foxing; an excellent copy.
The first French edition of this unauthorised account of James Cook's second voyage. The English edition was published in 1775, and Beddie attributes this translation to A.F.J. [Anne Francois Joachim de] Fréville. 'Correspondence between Cook and the Admiralty shows that the author was John Marra, one of the gunner's mates in the "Resolution". He was an Irishman whom Cook had picked up at Batavia during the first voyage. He made an abortive attempt to desert at Tahiti on May 14th, 1774' (Holmes: 'Captain James Cook R.N., F.R.S., A Bibliographical Excursion', page 31). Provenance: 'W. Rooke Florence | Decr. 21st. 1777' is written in ink on an initial blank. This may be William Rooke of the East India Company, merchant and sometime administrator in Bengal. Beddie 1272.
Item #128996
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