Item Details
A Voyage Round the World in the Years MDCCXL, I, II, III, IV.:. Commander in Chief of a squadron of His Majesty's Ships, sent upon an expedition to the South-Seas. Compiled from papers and other materials of the Right Honourable George Lord Anson, and published under his direction, by Richard Walter, M.A. Chaplain of His Majestyís Ship the Centurion, in that expedition. Illustrated with forty-two copper-plates.
London: for the author, by John and Paul Knapton, 1748. First Edition. Hardcover. Forty-two numbered engraved double-page or folding plates and maps. This copy signed at the dedication page "Mary Pierson", presumed to be wife/daughter of subscriber Peter Pierson.
"This is the official account of Ansonís voyage. England, at war with Spain in 1739, equipped eight ships under the command of George Anson to harass the Spaniards on the western coast of South America, for the purpose of cutting off Spanish supplies of wealth from the Pacific area....Lord Anson, who was a friend and patron of Benjamin Robins, after returning from the voyage around the world in the Centurion, appears to have entrusted to Robins, for revision, the account of the voyage which had been compiled from the journals by his chaplain, Richard Walter. It is probable that Robins revised and edited the work, wrote an introduction, and added dissertations....This compilation has long occupied a distinguished position as a masterpiece of descriptive travel." [Hill, 317-318]
"Anson's voyage is remembered as a classic tale of endurance and leadership in the face of fearful disasters, but to the British public of 1744 it was the treasure of the galleon, triumphantly paraded through the streets of London, which did something to restore national self-esteem battered by an unsuccessful war". [ODNB]
"[The edition] of 1748 is the most desirable [and it was] superior to any book of the kind which had been hitherto published [...] unequalled until Cook's voyages appeared". [Sabin 1625] National Maritime Museum I, 109. HBS 64828. Very Good. Light shelf/edge wear, wear at tips, head, heal, and hinges, early rebacking (preserving boards and spine), light toning, presentation card tipped in at front, owner/subscriber signature at dedication page, a handful of close tears (see laid in descriptive bibliography), dampstain at one plate, else tight, bright, and unmarred. Full brown leather binding, five raised bands. Small 4to. 417pp, subscribers list, instructions to binder. Illus. (b/w plates). Item #9208
Price: $5,000.00