Captain Cook's Journal During His First Voyage Round The World Made In H.M. Bark "Endeavour" 1768-71
A Literal Transcription Of The Original MSS
With Notes And Introduction
Edited by Captain W.J.L. Wharton
Illustrated by Maps and Facsimiles (ALL PRESENT)
Published by Elliot Stock: London 1893 1st Edition
Illustrated with 7 fold-out maps, two facsimile letters and two full-page b/w reproductions of drawings. 3 of the maps rest in pocket at rear endpaper, as issued.
"This important first edition presents a complete and faithful transcription of Captain James Cook's original journal from his historic first voyage aboard H.M. Bark Endeavour between 1768 and 1771, the expedition that transformed European knowledge of the Pacific and Australia's east coast. Edited with scholarly care by Captain W. J. L. Wharton, Hydrographer of the Admiralty, the work preserves Cook's own words with remarkable clarity, documenting daily navigation, encounters with Indigenous peoples, scientific observations, and the practical realities of long-distance eighteenth-century exploration. Cook's voice emerges as precise, disciplined, and methodical, offering an unparalleled primary account of one of the most consequential voyages in maritime history.
The volume is enriched by Wharton's informed notes and introduction, which contextualise Cook's observations within the broader framework of naval science, geography, and imperial exploration. Particularly significant are the illustrations, including seven fold-out maps, two facsimile letters, and two full-page black-and-white reproductions of contemporary drawings, all present as issued, with three maps housed in the original rear endpaper pocket. These cartographic materials vividly trace Cook's routes through the Pacific, the Society Islands, New Zealand, and the east coast of Australia, underscoring the enduring importance of this voyage to global navigation and colonial history.
Published in London by Elliot Stock in 1893, this first edition stands as the definitive nineteenth-century scholarly presentation of Cook's original manuscript journal and remains a cornerstone reference for historians and collectors alike. Combining textual authority, visual documentation, and careful editorial scholarship, it represents one of the most desirable single-volume accounts of Cook's Endeavour voyage, appealing especially to collectors of Australian exploration, maritime history enthusiasts, and admirers of foundational Pacific exploration narratives."
Light wear to covers and spine with a bend in the back cover as shown. Inner hinges split however covers are firm and structural integrity of book is very good. All maps and plates are present including the 3 folding maps in the rear pocket as published. Pages are clean with pleasant age toning only. A beautiful copy of an important and highly desirable book in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
